a question of care

The God Who Is There: We agree that although Schaeffer levels an effective critique of modern culture, he moves to an assertion of Christian truth without much, if any, argument connecting one to the other. It’s unclear who the audience for his book is supposed to be: the critiques appear directed at the atheist, but lack of connective argument suggests otherwise. S observes that apologetic arguments typically point toward God, but neglect issue of which God, and why—Schaeffer being no exception. Some of his arguments were from consequences: e.g., Christianity gets certain results, results which are good, therefore we should treat Christianity as true. Similar arguments from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and a measure of endorsement from Jonathan Haidt. Is there any value to these arguments? Do the ends justify the means?—should we encourage religious belief for the benefits it confers, even if we believe it to be false (a “noble lie”)? Or should we accept the negative consequences of pure humanism? S wonders if there has ever been a pure humanist society, and what if any negative consequences there would be.

At any rate, S remains unconvinced, still holds to materialism as default. J objects that seeing materialism as the default position is essentially an article of faith. S cares about nonmaterial things, e.g., love. J questions basis for this care.

S answers that “care” is basic to human existence, prior to reasoning, and that this applies to all ethics, including religious, regardless of the appearance of rationality. Arguments from religion are no-true-Scotsman rationalizations of already-arrived-at conclusions. Historical validation is ad hoc, with the benefit of hindsight. J interprets this as emotivism: there is no rational basis for what to care about. Is it arbitrary, coming down to personal preference like ice cream flavors? (Does that comparison work?)

According to S, care for my self and/or neighbor naturally springs up, and this could be sufficient to argue against Islamic violence. Tactics would be demonstration of humanity, which includes relational capacity, rationality. J disagrees, citing Ali. J argues that this conception provides little to no adequate rational basis for convincing someone else, e.g. Islamic terrorist, to change their ways, and that Christianity provides a more rational/potent response.

J counters the charge of religious rationalization citing personal experience assenting to biblical injunctions despite the urgings of personal feelings. J asserts that Christianity, if true, provides a rational basis for moral reasoning. E.g., God exists, has certain attributes / issues certain injunctions, warranting certain beliefs/responses from humans, which sometimes goes against one’s personal feelings. As for the charge of no-true-Scotsman, J asserts the “true” church is validated by authentic exegesis, not hindsight or preconceived notions. Does this hold true historically, e.g, with slavery? J thinks so; S questions. Moreover, this ethic is valid only if Christian truth-claims are in fact true, and since S does not believe them to be, rejects the concept.

J counters the concept of “care”/emotion as basic with personal experience struggling with suicide—”caring” about own pain to a great degree—but choosing to live. The aim with this example is to falsify the idea that care about oneself is an adequate basis for ethics, since the desired result (choosing life) could only be achieved by going against what one ostensibly cares about. But is this actually the result of deeper “care”, i.e. about Christian truth? If so, this decision also ultimately reduces to a prerational leap of faith, which would appear to validate emotivism, at least as descriptive.

The discussion ends: S returns to his life as a hell-bound reprobate, while J returns home to further indoctrinate his children into a religious cult.

For future discussion/research: Revisit MacIntyre’s critique of emotivism. Is humanism, or does humanism entail, emotivism? What is “care” and how does it relate to ethics, especially emotivism? Does it boil down to arbitrary personal preference, basic & prior to rationality (leap of faith)? Might be worth revisiting Heidegger’s definition, though since Heidegger was essentially secularizing Kierkegaard, might be a foregone conclusion. At the very least, we should revisit Heidegger’s critique of materialism, since you still call yourself a materialist. Also, Calvinism: what are S’s principle objections?