--- Miles Jackson <cqmv at pdx.edu> wrote:
>
>
> On Mon, 3 Feb 2003, andie nachgeborenen wrote:
>
> > Anyway, stop with the metaphysics. It's mere
> entertainment, in fact
> > self-indulgence, and a distraction, sort of the
> mental equivalent of
> > spinning hula hoops. Were talking politics, and
> the metaphysicians are
> > trying very hard to derail the conversation. "But
> first you must say
> > what the meaning of 'is' is." Puuuleeze.
> >
> > jks
> >
>
> I think it's a misconstrual to consider my comments
> "metaphysical",
> unless you think Wittgensteinian analysis of
> "language games"
> is metaphysics (which I hope you don't). I don't
> really care
> whether or not the beetle is in the box (i.e.,
> whether or not
> "intentions" really cause behavior). What I'm
> interested in
> is how the language of intentions plays a crucial
> role in our
> social relations. I agree that I'm not trying to
> generate a
> slogan to rally the masses around abortion on
> demand; however,
> I think a vigilant analysis of what we take for
> granted is
> essential.
>
> The danger with Justin's impatience here is that he
> is trying to
> produce politically efficacious rhetoric to justify
> a social
> practice. Just a question: what if by staying in
> the circle
> of what is political acceptable we reproduce
> ideologies and
> rhetoric that perpetuate economic and social
> inequalities in
> our society? If this isn't a political question, I
> don't know what
> is.
>
> --Am I dodging the question of how to come up with a
> convincing,
> effective "soccer mom" argument in favor of abortion
> rights?
> Yep. As I think more about it, though, I wonder how
> important
> that is. It's not like most people have rationally
> considered all
> the arguments for and against abortion, like a
> diligently trained
> philosopher/scientist, and drawn an objective
> conclusion based
> on logic and evidence. Rather than trying to change
> people's
> minds via argumentation, we should try to reinforce
> social relations
> that maintain abortion as a safe, legal activity.
> Just as a
> change in material reality in the South--integration
> of schools--
> led to a change in consciousness, so that about 90%
> of whites in
> the South now think integrated schools are
> appropriate, I think
> attitudes about abortion will follow from material
> practice. We
> don't need to provide rigorous ethical arguments
> that
> abortion is justifiable; we need to engage in
> political activity
> to expand abortion services in our society.
>
> Again, if this isn't political, I don't know what
> is. (And if it
> isn't clear from this post, I detest idle
> metaphysics even more
> than Justin does. Do I protest too much?)
>
> Miles
>
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