"Ducks on the Pond" Dept.
(Dispatching Easily With Three Critics)
For those who doubt the value of careful planning in one's writing -and why I bothered to set out exacting criteria for dialogue on the subject of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the morality of using atomic bombs in general
earlier in the week, they are now going to see in two forms the wisdom behind such tactics.
Now there is a longer response to Mark Shea and two of his
positional allies which when I sent a draft form to two friends to look over (it needs to be tweaked a bit but is substantially completed as of this writing), they compared my approach as taking a marine platoon up against a boy scout troop. Of course that was my idea anyway -to so thoroughly dispatch with the haughty righteousness of people such as Mark Shea that there would be no stone left unturned. But a thought came to me after reading the feedback on the longer version and it was this:
--For practical as well as tactical reasons, it may be worthwhile to precede the longer expository musing thread with a shorter posting outlining why Mark and his positional allies are not even worth being taken seriously on this issue to begin with since they do not meet the requirements as we outlined them on July 22nd.
So it is with that in mind that the post you have before you was written today over lunch. Let us review now and dispatch in short order with what the longer post interacts with in detail by examining the comments of Mark Shea and certain
positional allies of his and seeing if they even meet the minimal requirements for what I outlined in the posting on dialogue conditions from July 22nd. The words of the other two interlocutors will be in different shades of green font with Mark Shea's words in an appropriate hue of yellow. Without further ado...
I had an English friend who immensely enjoyed websites that took some manifestly absurd proposition and then threw vast intellectual resources at trying to defend it against all the assaults of common sense
Now, here is the fantastically verbose Rerum Novarum, slaughtering trillions of electrons to make the extremely long-winded case for why that plain-as-the-nose-on-your-face teaching does not apply to us when we nuke Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Masterpieces of sophistry. And that's just two posts. There's even more where that came from.
Here's the Catechism saying, just about as clearly as can possibly be said that "Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation."
That is the first batch of words from Mark Shea on this subject. Here is the second batch of words from him:
I do agree that Truman probably thought he was doing the right thing. He did not have the benefit of Catholic teaching. Shawn does. Given that the document being cited by the Catechism is directly addressing the annihilation of cities which took place in WWII and given that both Paul VI and JPII condemned the bombings of H and N, I think Shawn's attempts to justify them are a particularly egregious example of nationalism triumphing over the obvious teaching of the Church.
All of this will be touched on shortly after noting what "Jarnor23" had to say:
Well, you know how it is with some Catholics. Since nobody came right out and said we demand assent of the will on the matter, they'll ignore anything they find inconvenient about the faith and call it "prudential judgment". Then they'll proceed to call people who aren't as conservative about something else like returning to a married priesthood "Cafeteria Catholics".
Then there was some fella who apparently likes to call themselves "Anonymous" who noted these things:
Shawn is a cafeteria Catholic, pure and simple. And a good deal worse than a lot of his cousins on the left, who at least believe that abortion is wrong even if they aren't eager to do anything about it. Shawn's on the level of a Catholic who not only doesn't want to stop abortion legally, but actually thinks it's acceptable.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki's civilian casualties could never meet the proportionality test since the military assets in those cities simply weren't valuable enough.
Now then, let us demonstrate in short order why Mark and these other two persons have proven they cannot meet the challenge I set out on this issue by examining the criteria set down point by point. The points themselves will be in the regular dark blue source font but bolded to separated them from the other sources cited. Without further ado, let us get to it...
1) The discussion must conform itself to the discipline of the dialogue at all times...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa July 22, 2007)]
Readers who review the thread on dialogue linked to that point can now consider whether Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" meet that criteria or not. To summarize the bare bones of authentic dialogue from that linked posting before moving on with the other criteria, there are nine principles touched on which we will now look at one by one:
---Striving to enter into the viewpoint of the other person as much as you possibly can...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
It is obvious when what I wrote is looked at and you review what Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" wrote that they failed to adhere to the above principle of authentic dialogue.
---Listening to what someone actually says and taking time to assimilate their arguments into the collective of your mind...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
Review my previous comments as per Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" as they also apply here.
---Striving to conform ones approaches to the canons of traditional charity as much as one feasibly can...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
Review my previous comments as per Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" as they also apply here -particularly in the case of Mark Shea and "Anonymous."
---Seeking to properly represent the positions of the other person in accordance with objective criteria...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
When what I wrote is looked at and you review what Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" wrote, it is evident that they failed to adhere to the above principle of authentic dialogue.
---Seeking to at all times respect the wishes of the other person viz. the manner in which one seeks dialogue in various mediums...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
Review my previous comments as per Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" as they also apply here.
---Make actual arguments for a position rather than merely give the opinions of others as if said opinions constitute an actual argument in and of themselves...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
When what I wrote is looked at and you review what Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" wrote, it is evident that they failed to adhere to the above principle of authentic dialogue. In the case of Mark Shea, he engaged in elementary argumentation fallacies as did "Anonymous." Meanwhile, "Jarnor23" showed that he did not understand an important distinction to be made between what is a matter of open theological speculation and what is not admitting of divergence in the Catholic
weltanschauung.
---In citing sources, concern for proper context should be viewed to be of importance...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
When what I wrote is looked at and you review what Mark Shea wrote, it is evident that he failed to adhere to the above principle of authentic dialogue. Mark Shea references sources without concern for the actual context involved and utilizes a common fallacy of argumentation in the process. As for the other two, they did not cite sources so they did not run afoul of this principle.
---In utilizing any source with a degree of controversion pertaining to it, factors which may bias that source should be disclosed to the readers if they either are known or can be reasonably ascertained...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
When what I wrote is looked at and you review what Mark Shea wrote, it is evident that he failed to adhere to the above principle of authentic dialogue. Mark Shea references sources without concern for the actual context involved and utilizes a common fallacy of argumentation in the process. As for the other two, they did not cite sources so they did not run afoul of this principle.
---There should always be a strong hesitancy against making any kind of strong and opinionated public assertions on an issue where the person in question has minimal knowledge (if any) on....[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa February 9, 2006)]
It is obvious when what I wrote is looked at and you review what Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" wrote that they failed to adhere to the above principle of authentic dialogue. Both Mark Shea and "Anonymous" run afoul on an argumentation fallacy to boot which "Jarnor23" in what is noted above did not do -though he did make forceful statements on a subject which he obviously is not well informed about as Mark Shea and "Anonymous" likewise did.
In recapping the 9 principles outlined above which are indispensable for authentic dialogue and and how each critic fared, Mark Shea goes 0 for 9, "Jarnor23" goes 3 for 9, and "Anonymous" goes 2 for 9.
On this one issue alone, there is reason enough to disqualify them from being taken seriously on the subject in question and no more needs to be said about it. But unfortunately, that is not all.
2) It is absolutely a requirement that anyone who wants to discuss this matter with me review some of what I have already written on the matter in question. I realize that a lot has been written; therefore I have decided to make as a minimal requirement that the inaugural posting I wrote on the problems with revisionist historians, the posting on double effect, and the posting on Gaudium et Spes and general norms be given due diligence as to their content...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa July 22, 2007)]
All one has to do is review the threads I refer to above and read the words of Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" and notice that none of them have fulfilled this requirement -indeed I had already confuted a year and a half to two years ago various purported "arguments" made by all three of them. Once again,
on this one issue alone, Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" can be disqualified as well to say nothing about failing to meet what was noted under point one. And that is not all either unfortunately.
3) Any such challenger will be expected by me to stick to the natural lights of reason and logic if they expect to try and persuade me of the merits of their position over and above mine.[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa July 22, 2007)]
Considering that Mark Shea has engaged in three distinct argumentation/logical fallacies in his referenced words above, it is clear that
by this criteria alone he disqualifies himself apart from failing to meet what was noted under points one and two. In the case of "Jarnor23", he did not run afoul on this point but "Anonymous" sure did with the attempt to claim that someone can be a "cafeteria Catholic" by not accepting certain area where the Catholic conscience makes no requirements thereof. And unfortunately that is not all either.
4) Any such challenger will be expected by me to not confuse the subjective with the objective...Those who do not take the time to familiarize themselves with this distinction will be summarily disqualified as unfit...as they will inexorably write a bunch of non-sequiturial drivel which I will not lift a finger to interact with. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum(circa July 22, 2007)]
I am virtually certain that Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" would over time run afoul of this criteria if they spent much time discussing these issues with me. However, in what little is written by them above, it does not appear that they have yet run afoul of this criteria objectively; nonetheless, I note that here.
5) Any such challenger will be expected by me to not engage in any illegitimate appeals to authority as others in the past have done with me. I will not long tolerate it and indeed I will not dispatch with such pathetic attempts irenically so be warned in advance about that. The post noted in footnote fourteen explains this subject adequately and therefore any presumed challenger will be expected to familiarize themselves with its contents...[Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa July 22, 2007)]
This is one that Mark Shea has repeatedly involved himself in. As for "Jarnor23" and "Anonymous", they do not but that is quite likely because in their above words, they do not appeal to any authority but merely make unsubstantiated assertions.
6) I have no problem with valid usages of the ad hominem approach -unlike many so-called "apologists" I can take a punch as well as throw one. (As this is a subject which naturally effects emotions on both sides, for that reason bits of valid ad hominem will therefore be tolerated by me as a means of letting off steam.) However, any such challenger will be expected by me to make sure they know the difference between valid and invalid uses of the ad hominem because I will not tolerate the latter at any time whatsoever. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa July 22, 2007)]
In the case of Mark Shea, he has not in at least a couple years involved himself in anything remotely approaching valid ad hominem; ergo, he fails on this point and miserably at that. As for "Jarnor23", I did not see enough in this area to tell if he/she did or not. But with "Anonymous", it is obvious that they did.
7) Any such challenger will be expected by me to being open to questioning their own infallibility. I have seen a failure in this area far too often and frankly it annoys me. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa July 22, 2007)]
I am of course always willing to do this. From what they have written, Mark Shea obviously is not and I cannot tell from what I have seen from "Jarnor23" or "Anonymous" if they are of a like-mind as Mark Shea on this matter. I am inclined to view "Anonymous" as such based on part of what he/she said but nothing "Jarnor23" said would lend me to presume the same about them a priori; ergo I will not do so.
Oh and finally: do not (i) insult my intelligence, (ii) question my orthodoxy, or (iii) engage in any other cheap trick which I have seen from people who have (up to now) proven incapable of interacting on this issue as Catholics should act. Or should I say they should act if they are what they claim (both explicitly and implicitly) to be. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa July 22, 2007)]
On all three of the points noted in the final cited paragraph, Mark Shea, "Jarnor23", and "Anonymous" could not avoid running afoul of them. Let us sum up the results of this brief examination now.
In the final tally of the principles required for me to dialogue on this issue, there were seven major points (one of which had nine sub parts to it) and three final requirements -the latter of which can simply be summed up in the phrase "show that you are the Catholic that you claim to be."
In other words, there were seven major points
-any one of which if it is not met means automatic disqualification. And all three of these critics ran aground on one or more points including various subsections of the first one.{1} Mark Shea also ran afoul of the second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh points as well. As for "Anonymous", they also ran afoul of points three, six, and seven while "Jarnor23" (considering only what is noted above) did not fail to measure up in the other major areas except with regards to point two.{2}
The end result though is that Mark Shea get the gold medal as the worst of the bunch as far as meeting the criteria so noted
in my July 22nd dialogue criteria posting -indeed he fails to measure up practically across the board. "Anonymous" comes in a not-too-distant second and gets the silver medal while "Jarnor23" receives from a distance the bronze.{3} Of course the outline was set up as an all or nothing proposition and this was after careful thought and deliberation on my part for a reason. Understanding that in advance, all three fail to stack up precisely as I predicted in advance would happen almost universally with those who talk the talk on this issue but do not walk the walk.
I noted in the final line of that posting that I was curious to see if any Catholics actually would prove themselves to be worthy or if it would be more of the illogical and theologically vapid status quo. So far it has been the latter unfortunately -at least among those who were briefly noted above.
I also already noted that a more detailed exposition is coming where I will outline certain argumentation/logical fallacies that Mark Shea, "Anonymous", and "Jarnor23" utilized in their words cited above. In that text I will also note some persons who I noticed may be able to meet the criteria I have specified for a productive dialogue on the subject of the atomic bombings.{4} But enough on what is to come and we now need to consider what has been dealt with in this posting.
Without the slightest doubt whatsoever, it is a case of "ducks on the pond" with the persons briefly dealt with in this posting.{5} They would need to do a lot better than they have already if they want me to take them seriously. A
hell of a lot better to put it mildly and that is the bottom line really.
Notes:
{1} Mark Shea again going 0 for 9, "Jarnor23" going 3 for 9, and "Anonymous" going 2 for 9. (Where nothing less than 9 for 9 is acceptable if they are to avoid being disqualified on the first point alone.)
{2} It is worth noting though that I view it as probable that both "Jarnor23" and "Anonymous" would if drawn out further run afoul of the fourth and fifth points and Mark Shea unquestionably would with the fourth point making him summarily unfit to be taken seriously on all points involved. I say this based on what I have seen thus far and also based on experience in dealing with people who try and discuss this issue rationally; namely, it so rarely happens that I presume it will not until the contrary is demonstrated.
{3} This means that of the three, "Jarnor23" did the best job even though they still fell far short of the guidelines.
{4} I refer here to the historical incidents as well as the morality of the matter in general.
{5} The longer exposition thread when it is posted (which it will be either tomorrow or perhaps on Monday) will be more methodical in dealing with this subject.