Category Archives: Ethics

The Thing About Fluidity

In physics, a state of matter is one of the distinct forms in which matter can exist. Four states of matter are observable in everyday life: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Historically, the distinction is made based on qualitative differences … Continue reading

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See Unto Others as You Would Have Them See Unto You

See Into Others as You Would Have Them See Into You Let’s see a show of hands. Raise your hand if you are a perfect human being who has made no mistakes and made no poor decisions. Hmmm… the room … Continue reading

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It’s Just Not Fair!

Kids say that all the time… well not all the time. They typically point out unfairness when someone gets something desirable that they don’t get and they are upset. They rarely point out unfairness when they are getting something desirable … Continue reading

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Cattle Prod

Just so’s ya know: I post things to make people think. I do not have the power to change what they think, but posing questions, making provocative claims, and providing solid sources can result in people rummaging through their minds … Continue reading

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The Moral Justification for Abortion

Picture a maze with one exit… and that exit has something positive waiting outside the exit (like ice cream). Picture the same maze with several entrances – all of which will lead you to the exit. That is what it … Continue reading

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Signs That Trouble is a Comin’

One of the most poignant and easy to spot signs that there is a totalitarian agenda in your midst is attempts by individuals or groups to shut down free speech – and that includes using the all too slippery and … Continue reading

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Originalism Part I

———————————————- Originalism is in its simplest terms, reading a text, any text, looking for and sticking to the meaning that the writer had in her/his head when it was originally written. Pretty simple idea, actually. When applied to a way … Continue reading

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Love Lies Bleeding in My Hands

Many years ago, I had a long conversation with a young woman who was struggling mightily whether or not to have an abortion. I sat with her and we talked through the pros and cons and likely consequences of each … Continue reading

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From Whence Cometh Our Rights?

“You gotta fight for your right to party!” This famous declaration of independence by a cadre of seasoned philosophers (the Beastie Boys) brings up the most important questions about rights – where do they come from, and how do we … Continue reading

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I Like Laws That Reflect My Values

Back when I taught Critical Reasoning and also Ethics on the college level, students had an option to write a position paper on topics, including abortion. After receiving my Masters degree in 1991, I began teaching – which put it … Continue reading

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