From the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's lecture archives:
The debate on abortion seems less a debate and more two people stating their positions. I'm not usually a fan of such things, as I prefer more two-way interaction. That said, one of the comments by Dr. Kreeft was rather intriguing -- (paraphrased) -- "Let's say you're right. You have a very clever argument. Please tell me, would your argument make any of the women coming out of an abortion clinic feel any better about what they just did?"
A very insightful question...
 | "Is Abortion Morally Justifiable in a Free Society?" Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Boston College David Boonin, Associate Professor of Philosophy, UC-Boulder Yale University 12/1/2005 From ISI's Cicero's Podium: A Great Issues Debate Series. Email lecture to a friend – Send Feedback – Read Feedback (0) |
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 | The Mystery of Mankind's Love Affair with the Sea Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Boston College Intercollegiate Studies Institute 1/8/2004 Email lecture to a friend – Send Feedback – Read Feedback (0) |
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 | On the Shoulders of Giants: Learning from the Great Minds of the Past Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Boston College University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 8/27/1999 Email lecture to a friend – Send Feedback – Read Feedback (0) |
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A very insightful question...
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Hi there! Listening to the audio on your blog keeps me sane at work (I'm in data entry) while teaching me many things about my new faith (I was confirmed on Oct. 28th).
I really enjoyed the ISI debate between Peter Kreeft and David Boonin: "Is Abortion Morally Justifiable in a Free Society?" Do you know where I might find a transcript of this talk? I think Dr. Kreeft's final comments might be the thing that finally brings my mom around to pro-life -- she self-identifies as a "pro-choice Christian" -- which is the last thing keeping her from the Church.
Your help is much appreciated!
Kristen
Surprised at how, in order to grant his view validity, Professor Boonin asks that you accept so much fanciful nonsense. I always go back to a line in Chesterton that these sorts of people, in order to do their analysis, like to pretend they are not men in order to study Man, and therefore get everything all wrong. Chesterton's example is interpreting why we put flowers on a grave, "These people must believe in an afterlife requiring the utmost olfactory buffering." (bad paraphrase) I am not certain why such thinkers are so beholden to the Cartesian divide (reason vs intuition), it seems to be the one foundation they accept without requiring evidence. Didn't watch the debate, but via the audio Dr Boonin sounds unsure, constantly shifting, and muddled. Dr Kreeft in this talk sounds confident, calm, ordered, perhaps because he speaks from within the Christian tradition, and doesn't beg that you pretend you are an un-man in order to follow his argument.
mr. kreeft seems to have difficulty in changing from lecture mode to debate mode... it's sounds like he's giving a lecture on philosophy and christian ethics not engaging in a debate... but ONE CAN NEVER DENY THE TRUTH AND VALIDITY OF HIS FINAL STATEMENT,SHORT BUT POWERFUL!
mr.boonins abstract comparison in defending abortion really fails to make the grade and leaves one confused but one can understand his avoidance of direct comparison for it is more personal and emotional.but since abortion involves human life should'nt it be personal and emotional?