Opposition to Obama's controversial invitation to speak at Notre Dame's Commencement, is divided — especially among Catholics.
Regular readers of Blogcritics Magazine's Politics pages know that I am not a religious man. What most of you don't know, however, is that I have more than a passing familiarity with the Roman Catholic religion. Understandably, most of you won't care about my personal religious viewpoint, but I bring it up it because it is germane to this discussion.…
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426 - roger nowosielski
But Irene. I wasn't focusing on the example at hand. I was addressing the optimal mode of relating to one another. I just think that Jeannie has that quality; and you, too.
427 - Irene Wagner
Rick, I don't think you're a liar.
428 - roger nowosielski
From a quick look at the Wiki, though, triage strikes me as a form of (moral) utilitarianism.
An interesting example of such from I. Asimov's "I, Robot," the movie: the robot rescues the protagonist (Will Smith) because of the 40 percent chance of survival (instead of the little girl with only 10 percent).
429 - roger nowosielski
Quite right, Irene. Rick is not. But he does believe that Obama's a kind of monster.
430 - Irene Wagner
He couldn't save both. I'm not sure that's "utilitarianism." Hospital personnel have to do "triage" every day.
431 - roger nowosielski
Utilitarianism in the sense of maximizing the benefit - be it moral, pragmatic, or whatever.
The "moral objection" - in the movie - is that this kind of rational calculation is akin to playing God. There's something to be said for this kind of sentiment, despite the dictates of logic.
432 - roger nowosielski
Nice talking to you, Irene.
Till next time.
433 - Irene Wagner
All right, Roger. That'll probably be in comment #890 or thereabouts.
434 - Jeannie Danna
Rick might have been referring to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act that (then Senator) Obama blocked.
Rick & Irene, I need to learn about this!
(Once upon a time, a nurse was outraged about what she was ordered to do to a fetus who was a persistent little bugger and persisted in clinging to life after being aborted...) Was it snuck into another bill he was blocking or did it stand alone?
435 - Jeannie Danna
Roger, Do you have two computers? I only have one.. I am jumping around here like a rabbit! Why don't we all have a teleconference and have done with it!