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DanArmak comments on Is Politics the Mindkiller? An Inconclusive Test - Less Wrong Discussion

14 Post author: OrphanWilde 27 July 2012 05:45PM

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Comment author: DanArmak 01 August 2012 09:16:33PM 0 points [-]

Consider the contrast between these comments and the abortion debate in the US. I think the essence of the latter is a disagreement about the absolute and relative moral statuses of and rights due to fully grown humans and potential people. I expect it would continue to exist even if everyone agreed on the pertinent biological and medical facts of the matter.

I think the abortion "debate" is a Blue vs Green, Arguments as Soldiers issue. Pro- or anti-abortion doesn't follow logically from other positions held by each party. Counterfactually, if the two US parties had chosen different positions on abortion due to some historic accident, then I would expect their electorate to still support each party along current divisions.

Comment author: Cyan 01 August 2012 11:00:29PM *  0 points [-]

I think the abortion "debate" is a Blue vs Green, Arguments as Soldiers issue.

I agree. That's why I set up my counterfactual.

Counterfactually, if the two US parties had chosen different positions on abortion due to some historic accident, then I would expect their electorate to still support each party along current divisions.

I have the contrary expectation -- I can't conceive of a historical accident that would swap the parties' positions on abortion without also swapping their respective bases.

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