Living Without Religion the Ethics of Humanism
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Spring 1989 Vol. 9, No. 2 $4.00 41( Living Without Religion _The Ethics of Humanism Abortion in Can We Historical Achieve Perspective Immortality? Vern and Bonnie Bullough Cryonics and Other Technologies Carol Kahn Steven B. Harris TE Also: Ted Bundy, Pornography, and Capital Punishment Soviet Atheism and Psychoanalysis Under Perestroika, by Adolf Grü The Gospels as Literary Fiction, by Randel Helms Free Inceirf, SPRING 1989, VOL. 9, NO. 2 ISSN 0272-0701 Contents 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 10 ON THE BARRICADES 62 IN THE NAME OF GOD EDITORIALS 4 Eupraxophy, Ethics, and Secular Humanism, Paul Kurtz and Tim Madigan / Abortion in Historical Perspective, Vern and Bonnie Bullough / The Morality of Unbelief, Tom Flynn / Humanism and the Roots of Morality, Tim Madigan / More On Belief and Morality, Tom Franczyk HUMANIST ETHICS 14 Can We Achieve Immortality? Carol Kahn 19 Many Are Cold But Few Are Frozen: A Humanist Looks at Cryonics Steven B. Harris 25 Humanist Ethics: Eating the Forbidden Fruit Paul Kurtz 30 Scientific Knowledge, Moral Knowledge: Is There Any Need for Faith? Bernard Davis 37 The Inseparability of Logic and Ethics John Corcoran 41 A Theory of Cooperation Leon Felkins ARTICLES 46 Glossolalia Martin Gardner 49 The Study of the Gospels as Literary Fiction Randel Helms 52 Soviet Atheism and Psychoanalysis Under Perestroika Adolf Grünbaum 54 On Ted Bundy, Pornography, and Capital Punishment Vern Bullough, Paul Kurtz 58 An Atheist Handles Life Harry Daum BOOKS 56 Abortion and the Law Mary Beth Gehrman / Books in Brief Editor: Paul Kurtz Senior Editors: Vern Bullough, Gerald Larne Executive Editor: Tim Madigan Managing Editor: Mary Beth Gehrman Special Projects Editor: Valerie Marvin Contributing Editors: Robert S. Alley, professor of humanities, University of Richmond; Paul Beattie, Unitarian Church, Pittsburgh; Jo-Ann Boydston, director, Dewey Center; Paul Edwards, professor of philosophy, Brooklyn College; Albert Ellis, director, Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy; Roy P. Fairfield, social scientist, Union Graduate School; Joseph Fletcher, theologian, University of Virginia Medical School; Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading University, England; R. Joseph Hoffmann, chairman, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Hartwick College, Oneonta, N.Y.; Sidney Hook, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, NYU; Marvin Kohl, philosopher, State University of New York College at Fredonia; Jean Kotkin, executive director, American Ethical Union; Ronald A. Lindsay, attorney, Washington, D.C.; Delos B. McKown, professor of philosophy, Auburn University; Howard Radest, director, Ethical Culture Schools; Robert Rimmer, author; Svetozar Stojanovic, professor of philosophy, University of Belgrade; Thomas Szasz, psychiatrist, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse; V. M. Tarkunde, Supreme Court Judge, India; Richard Taylor, professor of philosophy, Union College; Sherwin Wine, North American Committee for Humanism Associate Editors: Doris Doyle, Steven L. Mitchell, Lee Nisbet, Gordon Stein, Andrea Szalanski Editorial Associates: Robert Basil, Jim Christopher, Fred Condo Jr., Thomas Flynn, Thomas Franczyk, James Martin-Diaz, Molleen Matsumura Executive Director of CODESH, Inc.: Jean Millholland Systems Manager: Richard Seymour Typesetting: Paul E. Loynes Audio Technician: Vance Vigrass Staff Steven Karr, Lisa Kazmierczak, Marlene Kulman, Anthony Nigro, Alfreds Pidgeon, Ranjit Sandhu FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is published quarterly by the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism (CODESH, Inc.), a nonprofit corporation, 3159 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215. Phone (716) 834-2921. Copyright ©1989 by CODESH, Inc. Second-class postage paid at Buffalo, New York, and at additional mailing offices. National distribution by International Periodicals Distributors, San Diego, California. Subscription rates: $22.50 for one year, $39.00 for two years, $54.00 for three years, $4.00 for current issue; $5.00 for back issues. Address subscription orders, changes of address, and advertising to: FREE INQUIRY, Box 5, Buffalo, NY 14215-0005. Manuscripts, letters, and editorial inquiries should be addressed to: The Editor, FREE INQUIRY, Box 5, Buffalo, NY 14215-0005. All manuscripts should be accompanied by two additional copies and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or publisher. Postmaster: Send address changes to FREE INQUIRY, Box 5, Buffalo, NY 14215-0005. absolutes. Who will establish the rules? And if, as Kurtz emphatically states, humanists believe in the "dignity and value Letters to the Editor of every human being," we are still left begging the question why? On what basis should we as human beings respect one another's "space"? I applaud the fundamental statements of More on the Declaration You are courageous to publish your Decla- this universal ethic. But if our feet are solidly ration of Interdependence. As in all risks, planted in mid-air (relativistic, individual "A Declaration of Interdependence: A New however, mistakes can be made. The incor- ethics with no concrete basis for "right liv- Global Ethics" (Fall 1988), covers the inter- poration of services provided by other ing") then how can we be expected to come action of human beings very well, and I agree humans as rights (that is, the right to ade- down to earth and treat other human beings with most of what is said. However, the quate education and health care) warrants as we would want to be treated? "interdependence of humankind with the discussion. earth and our responsonsibility toward the Noble as these sound, these rights are paid Mark Eckel, Chaplain earth and other life on it" is only sketchily for with someone else's money at a time when Shiloh Christian School mentioned. When it is, it appears to have the average American spends a greater Mandan, N.D. been added to satisfy some critic—it does portion of his working year earning money not give me the impression that it is an to pay his taxes than for any other integral part of the declaration. Without an expenditure. The Frailty of Reason ethics of responsibility for the earth and for Ironically, this desire for the right to other life forms, humankind will not fare health care has lead to violation of the I just wanted you to know Tim Madigan's well at all; quite the opposite. Many of what fundamental right to personal liberty, in- interview with Steve Allen and Jayne the authors call "rights" would become cluding freedom from involuntary servitude Meadows was great (Winter 1988). I wish to increasingly impossible. or slavery, as various state legislatures be one of the first to have the courage and Whenever our responsibility to humanity pressure physicians into providing unreim- stand up and say, "I AM IGNORANT." Now or to the world community is mentioned, bursed or under-reimbursed care by manipu- let me ask for help. HELP!!! so should be our responsibility for the earth lation of licensing and emergency-room and its resources, including other living coverage laws. Donald J. Hanek things. Social issues will not go away. How does Mystic Island, N.J. one answer the struggling young couple Meg Letterman whose taxes are raised to cover such "rights" Goldendale, Wash. as provision of obstetric care to the pregnant Tim Madigan's interview with Steve Allen and illegal immigrant who walks across the Jayne Meadows illustrated many of the border and never intends to pay any taxes? couple's admirable qualities. They are to be I am very favorably impressed with your And what of those who succumb to the oh- applauded in their willingness to stand up for Declaration of Interdependence. The idea is so-human frailties of overeating, smoking, humanist ideals. However, its last page wonderful and creative but I have some and drinking that engender such massive virtually destroyed my impression of Allen questions. social and economic costs? Is health care a and Meadows as educated and informed Does the "right to education" guarantee right for these uninsured irresponsibles while representatives of humanism as it applies to education for slow learners and those whose the rest of the taxpayers shell out for their economics. Two assertions are made in the disruptive behavior spoils class work? How care? Where is the incentive for self- interview that cannot pass without further much must we yield to such pupils? maintenance if the repair work is free? comment. The first is that the Great Depres- Does the "right to adequate health care" sion "represented literally a failure of capitalist mean care for drug users, smokers, and Christopher Lyon, M.D. economy." The second involves the observa- alcoholics on the same basis as for health Newport Beach, Calif. tion that the capitalists of Latin America turn nuts? priests and nuns into Marxists because they Does the "right to work" mean jobs for refuse to allow the people of these countries the disruptive, incompetent, and lazy? Don't Please help me. I cannot understand the to improve their lot. they now have the right to work? seemingly contradictory positions held by Both of these statements reflect a mis- Our St. Louis paper recently had a story the current secular humanist tradition. On understanding of capitalism and authoritarian about a man who had sired twenty-seven the one hand, humanists cry out for indi- power. Throughout the growth period of the children. Is this within his "right to bear and vidual rights based upon a relativistic system 1920s the Federal Reserve, under the intel- raise children"? (He was reported "on of ethics. As there are no absolutes in this ligent guidance of New York's Benjamin furlough" from his job.) scheme of "ought," men are free to practice Strong, was quite effective at allowing the Obviously I am prejudiced and unforgiv- anything their consciences dictate. money supply to grow in times of need and ing, but fortunately in Section (d), your On the other hand, Paul Kurtz et al. stabilize otherwise. After Strong's death, declaration allows me the right to "freedom recently emphasized the need for a universal however, the Fed's policy was in turmoil and of speech and expression." ethic.