The May 2010 Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Newsletter can now be found at: http://www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca/Newsletters/Newsletter108(May2010)(RGB).pdf Bill C-384 was soundly defeated by a vote of 228 to 59. Check how the Members of Parliament voted at: http://www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca/HowTheyVoted.pdf On June 5, 2010, we are co-hosting the US/Canda Push-Back Seminar at the Radisson Gateway Hotel at the Seattle/Tacoma Airport. The overwhelming defeat of Bill C-384 proved that we can Push-Back the euthanasia lobby in the US and Canada and convince people that euthanasia and assisted suicide are a dangerous public policy. Register for the Seminar at: http://www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca/2010SeminarFlyer(RGB)(LetterFormat).pdf The Schindler family are being attacked by a Florida television station and Michael Schiavo. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is standing in solidarity with the Schindler family. My blog comments: http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2010/05/att...
Reflections from the pastoral ministry of an Evangelical Catholic Priest.
"culture of death" is a good term to contrive and use if one wants to evoke fear and revulsion within a ‘death denying culture.’
ReplyDeleteThe slippery slope, contrary to a widely accepted definition is a fallacious argument and really does nothing but convey a lame and disingenuous attempt to impose groundless values on others.
Larry: I've been thinking a lot about the 'slippery slope' argument. I've usually taken the same approach as you, but recently am wondering if I am wrong.
DeleteCan you think of one example of social engineering (the redefinition of basic morality and social principles that began in the 1960s) where the predicted negative consequences have not come true? For example, I recently re-read Humanae Vitae and found that every negative consequence that P6 predicted has come to pass.
I want to believe that the slippery slope is a fallacy, but I am losing my conviction that this is indeed the case.
Fr. Tim
P.S. Nice to hear from you again. Did you and Arden enjoy a nice summer?
Larry, as usual you take an approach which is not supported by history. A well-worn saying- give them an inch and they will take a mile- was around long before we were born- and came out of experience that gave rise to the slippery slope saying.
DeleteTom, I don't know who you are but I think you must be from shack town.
DeleteI’m not sure what you mean by “the same approach” Tim . Perhaps you are assuming I am arguing for the opposite view.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a fallacious argument but that doesn’t mean that the conclusion is necessarily false, only that such a conclusion isn’t reasonably demonstrated by such an argument. A claim that stands alone is nothing more than an arbitrary one and the laws of probability say that sometimes it will be true and sometimes it will be false. No matter how many times a conclusion from one turns out to be true, it doesn’t change the fallacious nature of the slippery slope into a sound argument.
I personally believe that we need to find ways to let go of our certitudes and become less judgmental.
P.S. We had a great summer Tim and an extremely busy one . We have a little place in Quebec where we have 2 horses and we spend a lot of time there. It’s beautiful.
Larry: I'm with you in believing there's little that could match this summer in the Pontiac. I appreciate that some of the farmers would have preferred more rain, but as a vacationer with a cottage there I could not have asked for better.
ReplyDeleteMy apologies if I misread your comment and assumed too much. I didn't consider that something could be factually true and logically false at the same time. That's a thought worth contemplating on the next sunny, warm day off alongside the river! I'll add it to my list.
I think you're committing a version of 'Post hoc ergo propter hoc' fallacy... but I'm not sure. I never studied Latin for one thing, (grin) but I think your formulation is sure worthy of study and consideration. Thanks!
Fr. Tim
Fr. Tim
Good Grief! I hiccuped!
DeleteFr. Tim, my apologies, the "assumptions" are mine and I truly am sorry.
ReplyDelete