In Fergus Kerr's really interesting last chapter of his book Theology After Wittgenstein he makes this interesting application of Wittgenstein's thought, namely that if a 'metaphysical' concept of the self disappears the objection to abortion may actually be strengthened. This is because the human embryo already is human, and not just potentially one, or one in relation to a metaphysical soul:
The embryo already exists in the closest relationshop of physical dependence on an adult member of our species. Our being human has to be redecsribed as our being animals of a certain kind sharing from the beginning certain possibilities of interaction and response at the very physical level of vital functions. Paradoxically enough, the more animal we remember ourselves to be, the weightier the theological objections to abortion and embryo experimentation might become. p. 177
[As a side comment, I read last year Ray Monk's really moving biography of Wittgenstein. His story captured my attention... particularly when, as a character, he is compared to a man like Bertrand Russell, Wittgenstein stands out as an almost saintly and mystical figure. Well, up to a point! And the photos of Wittgenstein are truly haunting...]
2 comments:
I am not sure if the photo in the post below is the one that you are talking about. But it is haunting. I first thought it was a picture of Jack Kerouac or some Beat-poet on benzedrine.
I just started reading Ray Monk's bio of him recently...
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