Dear Michael S.,

I know from conversations with Jean Porter that she is quite familiar with the argument (indeed, arguments--about a host of matters) of Robby George, John Finnis, et al.  (Jean was at Emory this past weekend, and will be here again in two weeks for John Witte's Christian Juriprudence Project, in which she, Rick Garnett, and I, among others, participate.)  May I suggest that you ask Jean directly why she is not convinced by the argument in question:    [email protected]

But the fundamental question between us is not about the reasonableness vel non of Jean Porter.   The question is whether one can reasonably reject Robby's argument.  (There is no question, in my judgment, that one can reasonably accept the argument!)  Let's take a secular philosopher:  David Boonin, author of In Defense of Abortion (Cambridge 2002) and now a member of the Rutgers/Brunswick philosophy department.   Boonin was careful in writing his book to seek clarifying and critical feedback from many people, including George's sometimes co-author, Patrick Lee of the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.   Now, is Boonin unreasonable too?  Is everyone who rejects the argument unreasonable?  What do we gain, Michael, by accusing those who disagree with us of being not merely wrong or mistaken (in our view) but unreasonable?  Isn't it more productive--isn't it enough--just to state our reasons as carefully and clearly as we can in explaining why we think that our position is the right (correct) one and, therefore, why we think that it is wrong (incorrect, mistaken) to reject our position?

Let me hasten to add that I am not claiming that it is never right--that it is always inappropriate --to accuse those who reject our position as being not merely wrong but unreasonable.  But I strongly doubt that the question of the moral status of human life at its earliest stage of development is a fitting occasion for that kind of rhetoric.

I'm reminded of the mocking sign my wife gave me that hangs in my office (better in my office than around my neck):  "Be reasonable.  Think like I do!"

Best,

Michael P.