Finally, an attempt at an argument

Somewhere between the contempt and insults

I have been asking, maybe even pleading, for one argument from the ASU professors who used a hate-filled letter to try and cancel a conservative event. They ended up getting two people at ASU fired and closed the Center they slandered by chasing away the conservative donor. But in response to my claim that these ASU professors require conformity to their radical gender philosophy, a professor tried to present his argument. It would have received a failing mark as an argument paper in my logic class but should he get points for trying? Here is how it goes:

“It is about letting people be who they are.” That’s the conclusion. The premises? Well, he was a little shaky on those, so I will do my best to reword it and give him a strong argument. He may not be trained in actually forming arguments. And even when he tried, his comments were laced with insults.

His premises were of two kinds: 1) libertarian, 2) LGBTQ+ identity. His libertarian premises were the “live and let live” type, where he confuses “can” and “should.” He then uses a motte-and-bailey fallacy to argue that since people can (before the civil law) have same sex-marriages, that this is what they ought to do or that this is good. His proof? He knows happy people. That is a consequentialist argument: “if doing something makes me happy, then I should do it.” Of course, that isn’t the case, and people can do many things that aren’t good for them and be temporarily happy.

He then says that LGBTQ+ isn’t a philosophy; it just is the case. Well, that’s the fallacy of begging the question. It is the exact point I’m raising. Do students and employees have to accept the radical gender philosophy about personal identity to be at ASU? His argument inadvertently affirms just that.

I agree that people should be who they are. But that is exactly the question. Who are they? Do they know themselves? Are they whatever their desires want at any given time? Or are they a creature of God, made in His image, and given a purpose much larger than their sexual desires?

Parents, students, Arizona legislators, such professors continue to put on public display the quality of their thought on these matters. If you disagree with them, they will insult you. When someone tells you what they are like, believe them. Free speech does not mean you have to listen to insults or engage with irrational people.