tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post4892878411890069095..comments2024-03-19T02:00:34.750-07:00Comments on Edward Feser: COMING SOON: By Man Shall His Blood Be ShedEdward Feserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643921537838616224noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-71929005365270391882018-07-15T15:34:50.262-07:002018-07-15T15:34:50.262-07:00Re: “By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed”, by Edward Fe...Re: “By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed”, by Edward Feser: I have more than a theoretical interest in this argument about the death penalty. I confess I have not read the book, only the review by OnePeterFive. I have always been personally against the DP in part because of my profession. I am now retired from the criminal defense bar; I have been a public defender for most of these years in both Louisiana and California. I have tried over 20 of them from 1978 through 1990. Most were affirmed in the facts of the case, but the DP was overturned in all but one, eventually.<br /><br />First,citing vengeance as a support for the DP is grasping at rhetorical straws – although I need to research the book's texts that appear to allow this.<br /><br />My main objection to this review (and, perhaps the book) is the elision of the rather stark fact that apparently in this country over 150 people have been executed for either no crime at all (which appears to be the case in, e.g., Kevin Cooper’s case pending in CA) or really guilty of a lesser returnable verdict which should have been the result. This horrible result, among many, of a system gone stark raving mad as evidence of the intentional killing of a human being, by itself, should, in my opinion, justify present efforts to eliminate the DP as not only a carbuncle on the face of human justice, but an obvious insult to the spiritual proposition that all life is precious. <br /><br />I have been, along with many DP clients, the victim of the so-called “just us” system, which is a travesty in many jurisdictions because our criminal justice system is rife with flawed human values, chief among which is the propensity for state prosecutors to hide the evidence ball that would have at least mollified the jury’s eventual decision to instead find the defendant guilty of a lesser crime, if not exonerate him or her completely based on the questionable nature of the yclept incriminating facts. <br /><br />I applaud the fact that Pope Francis has ventured into the morass with his conclusion that, as I understand him, the DP is unnecessary in this age and because it is always an intentional killing, similar to abortion, which is an intrinsically evil act per se. The fact that this intention is carried out by a state agency, to me, appears as a motivating reaction to the perceived callousness that state prosecutors have pursued DP verdicts for fallow reasons – advance their careers or garner media headlines for obtaining “justice” for those who most deserve it, in their eyes. Review of these cases is pretty much relegated to a review of the extant court record, usually pretty sparse because public defenders never did have and do not now have the resources to match the States’ and thus will always depend on the conscience of the individual prosecutor to level the playing field by revealing ALL the exculpatory information that would have saved the life, if not the liberty, of the accused. I have seen too many such cases that are a deplorable example of power abuse to feel ever comfortable in using the contrary arguments put forth here in support of a different opinion about the present merits of and use of the DP. <br /><br />I realize this is not a popular conservative Catholic position now, but I am surprised that the authors expend so much time and energy in propping up an archaic and useless social appendage in today’s supposedly enlightened morality, regardless of the staid arguments in favor of the status quo.<br /><br />I object in all humility, knowing that my struggle to oppose this legalized killing and get the Church to see it that way is probably a waste of time. I just needed to say this after forty-plus years in the trenches. Grace and peace, anyway, always… Phil Johnson<br />aureslupi@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077597397859292748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-10243914733285637942017-02-04T03:35:06.603-08:002017-02-04T03:35:06.603-08:00I suspect this book in itself might tend to an ext...I suspect this book in itself might tend to an extreme of excess i.e. that the death penalty is necessary and desirable. This is just as problematic as saying the death penalty can not be justified ever. I think many of the supposed positives of the death penalty are exaggerated.A2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-59016798536584362182017-01-09T20:33:10.191-08:002017-01-09T20:33:10.191-08:00Mark Shea is going to FREAK ... Mark Shea is going to FREAK ... Christopher Blosserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08385159494196923575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-68073827010860744162017-01-09T12:33:41.440-08:002017-01-09T12:33:41.440-08:00Anyone want to go in with me on buying a copy for ...<i>Anyone want to go in with me on buying a copy for Mark Shea?</i><br /><br />You know, Jacob... I will. How much??Nate Winchesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00630873800235819300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-78626185394632124652017-01-09T12:02:28.741-08:002017-01-09T12:02:28.741-08:00I understand it's intended more as a defense o...<i>I understand it's intended more as a defense of classical theism than as an attempt to prove God's existence. </i><br /><br />Hello Vincent, not sure why you say that. It IS an attempt to prove God's existence, via five arguments, as the very title indicates. What I was saying above is just that (a) it isn't a book about Aquinas's Five Ways per se, even though there is some overlap, and (b) it isn't limited to putting forward the proofs but also contains a detailed treatment of the divine attributes and other issues besides. That is to say, it is a general work of natural theology.Edward Feserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13643921537838616224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-79436380863036236832017-01-09T05:19:51.219-08:002017-01-09T05:19:51.219-08:00Hi Ed,
I'm looking forward to your forthcomin...Hi Ed,<br /><br />I'm looking forward to your forthcoming book, "Five Proofs for the Existence of God." I understand it's intended more as a defense of classical theism than as an attempt to prove God's existence. In that case, you might find this post of mine interesting:<br /><br />http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/do-christians-worship-many-gods/<br /><br />A handy summary of 16 controverted questions among Christians regarding the nature of God can be found here:<br /><br />http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/do-christians-worship-many-gods/#Q<br /><br />Cheers.Vincent Torleyhttp://www.angelfire.com/linux/vjtorley/index.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-24692221306251286122017-01-08T15:10:18.934-08:002017-01-08T15:10:18.934-08:00Great mission you gave yourself. The topic is con...Great mission you gave yourself. The topic is connected to hell metaphorically. If you think hell is empty despite e.g. countless pirates and criminals dying as they fought law enforcement to the death for millenia, then...you'll probably side with the last three Popes all of whom sought abolition even though they permitted the catechism to allow super rare death penalty. But abolition denies even the super rare use.<br />St. JPII and Benedict in minor venues sad we could not be certain Judas was in hell and Francis twice has preferred a statue in a church in Europe to Christ's consistently dire words on Judas...words not in keeping with those who reach purgatory. Fr. Raymond Brown and his school of biblcal scholarship got Catholic leaders to ignore verses they ddn't like whether on Judas or on the death penalty. You are working against a tidal wave of bible cleaner uppers....God be with you.bill bannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09737277581167437670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-52251189424316373982017-01-08T13:43:13.505-08:002017-01-08T13:43:13.505-08:00I actually really like the title 5 Proofs For The ...I actually really like the title 5 Proofs For The Existence of God. It's so matter-o-fact like N.T. Wright’s *The Resurrection of The Son Of God*. Dr. Feser could always add a subtitle to make it more dramatic, though it may start to sound like an action film or get cheesy at that point:<br /><br />5 Proofs For The Existence of God; When Finite Meets InfiniteAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613627123506607663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-46215363136197088832017-01-07T13:34:46.258-08:002017-01-07T13:34:46.258-08:00Yay!Yay!daurionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-40157245514838441262017-01-07T12:40:24.100-08:002017-01-07T12:40:24.100-08:00@ DrYogami
Don't know what exactly you wanna...@ DrYogami <br /><br />Don't know what exactly you wanna see but this is related i think..<br /><br />http://edwardfeser.blogspot.com/2014/03/stop-it-youre-killing-me.html <br /><br />Also regarding sorites paradox ..you might wanna check out Timothy Williamson's defense of epistemicism .Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05569340378356607760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-27921734888972758992017-01-07T12:11:12.653-08:002017-01-07T12:11:12.653-08:00Anyone want to go in with me on buying a copy for ...Anyone want to go in with me on buying a copy for Mark Shea?Jacob Dariusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-1541089954993361552017-01-07T07:51:35.059-08:002017-01-07T07:51:35.059-08:00I'd like to see some thoughts on this article ...I'd like to see some thoughts on this article on speciation in biology:<br /><br />http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tippling/2017/01/07/species-not-exist-evolution-sand-dunes-sorites-paradox/DrYogamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08426423741048374038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-53576350151327258832017-01-07T06:41:35.068-08:002017-01-07T06:41:35.068-08:00"lawfully tried"
Then Pilate announced ...<i>"lawfully tried"</i><br /><br /><b>Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."</b><br /><br />The only sense in which it was "lawful" was that the Roman governor, as a foreign conquerer, had the "right" (i.e. the power) to put to death anyone he pleased / decided to kill. That's the kind of law that says "you do what I want and I don't torture you to death". <br /><br />I am pretty sure that sense of "lawful" isn't the main driver of the book. probably notnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-92228595197536059542017-01-07T02:20:10.968-08:002017-01-07T02:20:10.968-08:00I wonder if there will be a chapter of the crucifi...I wonder if there will be a chapter of the crucifixion of Jesus. After all He was lawfully tried and executed by the state as a deterrent to others who might promulgate ideas that would endanger order and peace. Dianelos Georgoudishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09925591703967774000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-53346264699053487992017-01-06T11:29:43.304-08:002017-01-06T11:29:43.304-08:00But here is a request Plz change the name of Five ...<i>But here is a request Plz change the name of Five Proofs of the Existence of God..to something cooler</i> <br /><br />After extensive polling* and focus groups* we can offer the following replacement names: <br /><br />"It is what IS". (Sorry: play on the trite "It is what it is" to reflect "I am who am".) <br /><br />"THE ONE for the Price of Five: 5 Proofs for God" <br /><br />"Yes, Virginia, There is a God: 5 Proofs for God Even More Compelling than the Case for Santa Claus." <br /><br /><br />Bonus Offering: the title to an article overturning Lawrence Krauss's stupid nothing book: <br /><br />"You Ain't Got Nothing Yet" <br /><br />* Polling Sample Size: 1. Margin of Error: indefinably small. Tonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-83053621835584623762017-01-06T10:07:36.431-08:002017-01-06T10:07:36.431-08:00Name suggestion:
Just what is it you don’t believ...Name suggestion:<br /><br />Just what is it you don’t believe? <br />Five Proofs...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-52500010598836638092017-01-06T06:51:20.074-08:002017-01-06T06:51:20.074-08:00Congrats Feser..
But here is a request Plz change...Congrats Feser..<br /><br />But here is a request Plz change the name of Five Proofs of the Existence of God..to something cooler ..it sounds like a sloppy generic apologetics book name .<br /><br />Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05569340378356607760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-41657086741480072322017-01-05T21:42:53.064-08:002017-01-05T21:42:53.064-08:00Congratulations on the new book! Thanks also for k...Congratulations on the new book! Thanks also for keeping us posted on your book schedule, I’m particularly excited about the Five Proofs book.<br /><br />Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year. <br />Steve Mcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-46983983461893962552017-01-05T16:23:30.374-08:002017-01-05T16:23:30.374-08:00Congratulations Ed! Thanks for info on the upcomin...Congratulations Ed! Thanks for info on the upcoming book schedule. Please come to Princeton, New York, or anywhere on the East Coast to speak about any of these books =)JohnDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-82290539261668834822017-01-05T16:15:54.257-08:002017-01-05T16:15:54.257-08:00Ed,
It might depend upon the publisher and the li...Ed,<br /><br />It might depend upon the publisher and the like, but how long does it typically take to go from your completing a work to it being on the shelves? I've no feel for these kinds of things and was curious. ccmnxcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-51596733658012188172017-01-05T16:10:10.485-08:002017-01-05T16:10:10.485-08:00Thanks, Anonymous. All I get is a link trying to ...Thanks, Anonymous. All I get is a link trying to sell me Amazon Prime. It may have to do with my New Zealand IP address.John Thayer Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04511440643740805165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-75992123200373275252017-01-05T16:02:00.228-08:002017-01-05T16:02:00.228-08:00Excellent!Excellent!Geremiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11812810552682098086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-14433313614076015402017-01-05T14:37:24.728-08:002017-01-05T14:37:24.728-08:00John,
Hm. My apologies.
Here's a pic of wha...John, <br /><br />Hm. My apologies.<br /><br />Here's a pic of what I see.<br />http://imgur.com/zmWiT5W <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-14131118127089725472017-01-05T14:19:28.300-08:002017-01-05T14:19:28.300-08:00Hmm... responding to 'Anonymous' about Ki...Hmm... responding to 'Anonymous' about Kindle, on my Amazon page I see the 'Editorial Reviews' section but no Kindle icon or 'tell the publisher' link that I can find.John Thayer Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04511440643740805165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954608646904080796.post-89308491355208394962017-01-05T14:14:25.054-08:002017-01-05T14:14:25.054-08:00Oh, man, Feser is the gift that keeps on giving. Oh, man, Feser is the gift that keeps on giving. dover_beachhttp://www.theordealofconsciousness.comnoreply@blogger.com