- A well written piece in The New York Times discusses the complex politics involved in trying to scientifically establish whether or not fetuses (especially those younger than 22 weeks) are able to feel pain. I don’t really know enough about this to speak to the scientific side of things, but I will say that there seem to be two factions represented in this article. No, they are not “yes, fetuses can feel pain,” and “no, they cannot,” but rather those who believe this is an appropriate axis for determining abortion policy and those believe it is not. A researcher whose work challenges the hypothesis that the cerebral cortex, which is undeveloped at the time most abortions occur, is needed to feel pain refused to comment further on the issue, the article said, because ‘politics has ‘infected’ the issue.’ Speaking off the cuff, I’d have to say I don’t think the issue of fetal pain is of as much relevance to the abortion debate as its proponents and detractors seem to think.
- William Engdahl writes on the deterioration of Libya into chaotic anarchy in the past two years. A fascinating piece demonstrating the unintended consequences of poorly conceived military interventions into the Middle East. Keep in mind, however, Peter Leeson’s point that the worst anarchies should not be compared to the best states, but rather to the worst.
- Bob Wenzel at the EPJ publishes an e-mail exchange between Walter Block and Brad DeLong. DeLong smears Block and tells him he should be ‘ashamed’ of himself, while Block points out that he’s not the one throwing around ad hominem attacks. It’s worth reading, and it’s probably already clear who I think winds up on top in this one.
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Et Cetera – 20 September 2013
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