Thomas More Institute

for a more informed ethical engagement in public and professional life

Everyone Matters, No Matter What - Wesley J. Smith

The idea of euthanasia clinics was once thought of as science fiction but has, alas, become reality today with an international clientele making one-way trips to Switzerland where they are legal. Killing as an answer to problem of suffering has ‘become de rigeur among the intellectual class’, argues the author. The inherent dignity of every human being is losing ground to a purely materialist, nihilist and post-modern conception of man whose moral worthiness ‘is solely a by-product of some measurable attribute or capacity’. This can only be overcome by ‘embracing human exceptionalism’ and by suffering with the suffering through love of our neighbour.

© First Things (New York)

Looking for an Honest Man - Leon R. Kass

The author, trained in medicine and biology, discusses the purpose of a humanistic education by tracing his own search for ‘wisdom about the meaning of our humanity’. As with Diogenes, this search starts with a quest for the idea of human nature. Furthering this inquiry into the field of science, the author argues that science, and especially medicine, does not concern itself enough with the human whole. Contrary to some views of the Enlightenment, progress in science and technology does not constitute the grand solution to human problems. Rather, contemporary science risks becoming dehumanized and separate from real life which could pose social and political dangers, as envisaged by Rousseau. A ‘more natural science’ needs to do justice to ‘life as lived’ and, second, offer a richer account of ‘our animality [and] the human difference’. Emulating Aristotle, the author states that the ‘ethically excellent human being acts for the sake of the noble, for the sake of the beautiful’ whilst always being prudent. In the search for our humanity, the works of ‘countless generations of past seekers’ will provide unparalleled insight. This ought to remind us that we ‘owe a comparable gift’ to the generations following us.

Cicero Superstar - Mary Ann Glendon

Public service as a statesman and the pursuit of knowledge were, according to Cicero and Aristotle, the noblest callings for those with the right disposition. Unlike Aristotle, however, Cicero seemed to favour the former as statesmen ‘must actually set the conditions to foster the virtues that are necessary to a well-functioning polity’. The ideal statesman should – much like Cicero himself – let his actions be guided by philosophy and a deep reverence for Roman institutions and traditions. The author traces the life of Cicero in light of this view and suggests issues ‘that young persons with political aspirations still ponder today’. This includes (i) how to ‘style’ oneself for a political career; (ii) politics as a ‘dirty business’ which involves sacrifices in one’s private life; and (iii) the compromise between high ideals and advancing one’s cause.

© First Things (New York)

The Struggle for Religious Freedom - George Pell

In its inquiry into freedom of religion, the Australian Human Rights Commission has questioned the compatibility of religious freedom with human rights. The author traces this fallacy, first, to the Commission's mistaken notion that religion is not built on – but rather opposed to – human reason; and, second, to the Commission's primary concern to implement ideological and secular agenda, not genuine rights. This all stands in stark contrast to international conventions and the principle of subsidiarity. Rights are at risk of becoming, as in Britain and the United States, a subset of public policy and an arm of government.

© Quadrant Magazine (Sydney)

Lithuania responds to criticism of homophobia by strengthening family values - Bryan P. Bradley

The decision of the Lithuanian parliament to ban public information it considers harmful to young people – including the encouragement of ‘sexual relations…that denigrates family values’ – caused a stir with EU officials in Brussels and various NGOs. A resolution condemning the Lithuanian law was passed by the European Parliament but was later overturned by the European Court of Justice. This episode, along with similar cases in Ireland, Italy, and Russia, the author argues, could signal a European-wide trend of ‘people with values’ making their voices heard.

© MercatorNet

Words that think for us - Edward Skidelsky

The word ‘values’ is nowadays in widespread use after being adopted by philosophers for ‘moral, aesthetic or practical evaluation’ in the late 19th century. The word originally referred to the process of pricing or estimating the worth of an object and has, wrongly argues the author, largely replaced the use of ‘virtues’. This has significant effects: whereas the latter are inherent, values are ‘rooted in the act of valuing’ and consequently mask the value relativism and subjectivism of an argument as ‘anything can become a value…by being valued’.

© Prospect Magazine (London)

E. D. Hirsch's Curriculum for Democracy - Sol Stern

E. D. Hirsch Jr., an American educational thinker, conducted an experiment to assess why some students were better at reading and writing than others on entering university. He concluded that ability to understand and analyse advanced texts can be traced to the background knowledge in other subjects, such as history, arts and science. Contrary to current trends in education policy – where ‘progressive’ themes of teaching children how to learn prevail – Hirsch’s results show that schools should impart a core body of knowledge. This, in the view of Hirsch and the author, is the only ‘avenue of opportunity for disadvantaged children’ and is required to create virtuous, responsible citizens who can preserve and protect civic and democratic institutions.

© City Journal (New York City)

Words that think for us - Edward Skidelsky

In pursuit of political correctness and to avoid any moral judgment, our culture seeks to establish a new, neutralised language. As an example, the author points out that ‘improper’ and ‘indecent’ have been replaced by ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unacceptable’. The former words express moral judgments, whereas the latter merely imply breaches of convention. The author suggests that ‘[as] liberal pluralists, we seek only adherence to rules of the game, not agreement on fundamentals’. Instead of espousing openness vis-à-vis our judgments – thus allowing them to be controverted – our new language hides its moralism behind a veil of ‘bureaucratic neutrality’.

© Prospect Magazine (London)

Labor's Attack on Conscience - Julian McGauran

When the Abortion Law Reform Act, which is arguably the most liberal in the world, was introduced in Victoria, Australia, the impacts on medical practitioners were immediate. Firstly, doctors who object to abortion are now forced to refer patients to other doctors who are willing to perform such acts and are, secondly, compelled to undertake abortions when ‘[it] is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman’. The right of medical professionals to exercise their own ethical judgment has been thoroughly restricted, which violates Victorian and international human rights. The author views this as changing the moral ‘tenets of [Australian] society’ and as a direct attack on the Catholic healthcare system. Moreover, it reflects the deep influence of the pro-abortion lobby on the Labor Party.

© Quadrant Magazine (Sydney)

All in the Family - Gerard V. Bradley

Proponents of same-sex marriage often make their argument on the basis of equality. There is no rational foundation, they would claim, for denying same-sex couples the recognition and benefits enjoyed by married opposite-sex couples. On this reading, marriage is reduced to a mere manifestation of adult satisfactions. The author suggests that one way to counter such arguments is to illustrate coherently that marriage is a procreative relationship. Traditional marriage law is based on procreation because children embody and reflect the union of their parents (‘two-of-them-as-one-flesh’). This, in turn, creates the unbreakable chords of the ‘matrix of familial equality, mutuality, and common identity’ upon which family life (love, duty, loyalty, care-giving) depends.

© ThePublicDiscourse.com