[Vision2020] Huh? Say WHAT!?

[Joe Campbell]

Wilson's argument -- the argument you defend -- is a fallacy. It even has a
name: The slippery-slope fallacy. (Though there are conceptual
slippery-slope arguments too that are very different.)

Even if you put the argument in the form of a conditional -- If it's OK for
any two consenting adults of either gender to marry, then it is OK for any
three or more consenting adults of any gender to marry -- you still need an
argument for the conditional. On the face of it, it seems pretty easy to
distinguish the cases: Does he have one wife, or more than one? You say you
see "the point" but I don't see the point, or the connection between a gay
marriage between two consenting adults and a polygamous relationship.

Unless the connection is that the government should stay out of the
marriage business, which would be fine, and polygamy would be fine, too, if
it weren't for fact that some adults will exploit the circumstances and
marry tweens. Fact. That is why government is in the marriage business. We
need to protect the young and vulnerable, and thus we need laws against
certain types of unions.

Here the defense is an appeal to the harm principle: One can make a law to
protect citizens from harm (including harms to their interests). If there
is no good reason to think that something will lead to a harm, the law
should stay out of it. That protects us against pedophiles but allows for
gay marriage.

On Fri, Mar 1, 2013 at 1:48 PM, Paul Rumelhart <godshatter at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I think the general argument would run something like this:  "if it's OK
> for any two consenting adults of either gender to marry, then why isn't it
> OK for any three or more consenting adults of any gender to marry?"
>
> If that's what he's thinking, I can kind of see his point.  Of course, I'm
> personally fine with gay marriage, and would have no problems with polygamy
> either.  I'd be happiest if the government got out of the marriage racket
> to begin with, frankly.
>
> Paul
>
>   ------------------------------
> *From:* Joe Campbell <philosopher.joe at gmail.com>
> *To:* Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* vision2020 at moscow.com
> *Sent:* Friday, March 1, 2013 11:39 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] Huh? Say WHAT!?
>
> Well, if he argued that polygamy and gay marriage are similar, then that
> is just another fallacious argument. It is like arguing that we can give
> every adult the right to vote because that would lead to some folks voting
> more than once. We would be powerless to avoid that!
>
> On Fri, Mar 1, 2013 at 11:11 AM, Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com>wrote:
>
> Cultmaster Wilson is hopelessly floundering as he is swept out to sea on
> the tide of reality and oncoming change.  But that's what happens to those
> that allege total faith in some "inerrant" ancient texts.  Foolhardiness
> begets misery for others.
>
> It's too bad that the Cultmaster is not a Mormon so that he could have a
> "new" vision from some alleged God correcting his current views.
>
> w.
>
>
>  On Fri, Mar 1, 2013 at 1:45 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>
>  "I argued at length that *all* the arguments employed to advance same
> sex marriage can be, are being, and will be used to advance polygamy also.
> In short, gay marriage greases the skids for polygamy."
>
> - Doug Wilson (March 1, 2013)
> http://www.dougwils.com/Sex-and-Culture/a-century-of-sinkholes.html
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> http://www.MoscowCares.com
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "There's room at the top they are telling you still
> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>
> - John Lennon
>
>
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>
> --
> Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
> art.deco.studios at gmail.com
>
>
>
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