Sir, – With regard to an opinion piece on abortion by Dr Robert Grant (Rite & Reason: "Making abortion illegal doesn't stop it happening," October 27th), how can a philosopher write on this topic without once contemplating the nature and meaning of life?
Not one mention of any possible natural right of an unborn child – frighteningly non-existent in many paragraphs of discussion. Dr Grant may have to brush up on Enlightenment ideas and the dangers of ignoring the rights of the individual!
– Yours, etc,
DR THERESE BOYLE
Dóchas Centre,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – Judging by The Irish Times letters page, the abortion debate has begun.
Cue people on both sides complaining about “balance” and “unfair” reporting. It’s simply impossible to avoid accusations of bias from committed campaigners on this issue.
No matter how stringent this newspaper’s editorial impartiality, there will be no end of letters demanding redress for outrages against balance.
Those pointing out apparent partiality in the media would do better to address the real issue – balancing the bodily autonomy of a woman with the rights of the unborn.
Given the difficulty in conducting an amicable debate on the 8th Amendment, it’s no surprise some people would rather complain about newspapers.
– Yours, etc,
DARRAGH ROCHE
Prospect,
Limerick.
Sir, – Dr Grant makes a number of strong points about the potential to find common ground is some areas of the abortion debate.
However, in arguing that by supporting the ban on abortion, pro-life advocates are only satisfying their “ideologically motivated conscience”, he fails to imagine the pro-life position fully.
Many pro-life supporters believe that an embryo has the same right to life as the newborn. If that is your view, then you are unlikely to find an argument in favour of terminating an embryo convincing, unless the same argument applies equally to all stages of human life.
Pro-life supporters are unlikely to accept Dr Grant’s contention that supporting legislation for abortion is morally neutral, unless they first can be persuaded that human rights do not apply to the unborn.
– Yours, etc,
COLIN WALSH,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – According to Prof Patrick Fitzpatrick "Philosophy depends on logic" ("Computer games can help develop logical thinking", October 26th).
Could someone pass that information on to Dr Robert Grant, a tutor in philosophy at Trinity College.
The absence of logic and an ability to compute ratios on figures [on abortion] spanning more than 40 years makes one fear for the intellectual development of his students.
– Yours, etc,
DERMOT SHINNERS-
KENNEDY
Ballysimon,
Limerick.