The Chronicle of Higher Education is holding an essay symposium on Free Will and I have so many problems with Jerry Coyne's contribution: "You Don't Have Free Will." To begin with, I have a general suspicion that the debate over free will is terrible at least in part because the definition of free will is incoherent. (Yudkowsky has a good essay on recognizing and defusing definitional debates). What we are fumbling after is the reason we are morally culpable for our own actions. Why … [Read more...]
Whaddya Wanna Get Married For?
February 14, 2012 By 93 Comments
Sorry this is late, but what could be better on Valentine's Day than pouring kerosene on a fight about marriage? This post is part of a debate on gay marriage. In the last installment, my friend Matt argued that endorsing gay marriage means endorsing the foundations of divorce culture. So now it's my turn to be prescriptive about marriage. To start with a recap of what kind of marriage Matt opposed, let's go to the videotape (John Barrowman in Company): We'll look not too … [Read more...]
Divorce and the Doctrine of Individualism
February 9, 2012 By 92 Comments
This post is part of a debate on gay marriage. Matt led off with a post on gay marriage and deep friendship, and I rebutted him in three parts. Now he debuts a new argument, which I'll respond to tomorrow. (Oh, and once again, photos are my fault, not Matt's). The second of Professor Anthony Esolen’s arguments that I’d like to concur with is the idea that homosexual marriage would "seal us in a culture of divorce." Again, this hits at a major talking point of the gay rights … [Read more...]
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