If Haidt or anyone else were to undertake to argue against the Catholic anti-abortion zealots, wouldn't Haidt or another person have to understand the arguments upon which Catholic anti-abortion zealotry is based? If you don't understand their arguments, then you are going to be reduced to saying something like this: "I don't understand why you are saying what you are saying against abortion, but I disagree with you about abortion." Granted, some people might say this. But if someone were to say this, then I would say that that person has not joined the argument presented by the Catholic anti-abortion zealots.
An argument is joined only when the opponent directly and explicitly contradicts the position being opposed. I will use the terms thesis and antithesis to illustrate how an argument is joined.
Thesis: "John Doe is guilty as charged."
Antithesis: "No, John Doe is not guilty as charged."
Haidt's sweeping generalization, quoted above, in effect sweeps aside the Catholic tradition of "natural law" moral theory. But Haidt has not joined the argument in favor of the Catholic "natural law" moral theory. Indeed, he does not give any evidence of having studied it.
But if the line of argument advanced by Catholic anti-abortion zealots were joined, then some of them might be persuaded to think differently about legalized abortion in the first trimester. For an informed effort to join the line of argument used by Catholic anti-abortion zealots, see Garry Wills' book HEAD AND HEART: AMERICAN CHRISTIANITIES (2007, pages 515-530).
In short, Haidt does not appear to be tuned into the real world regarding the abortion debate.
Now, I want to switch from the abortion debate to a larger question. I have outlined how extensively many educated Catholics have been indoctrinated in the doctrines of the Catholic tradition of "natural law" moral theory. Does Haidt actually believe that Pope Benedict XVI, the other Catholic bishops around the world, and all conservative Catholics around the world today would be persuaded by his book to give up all their training in the centuries-old Catholic tradition of "natural law" moral theory and embrace Haidt's position?
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