I think that the comparision with Female Genital Mutilation is tempting but wholly misguided. FGM is - despite some campaigners' claims - relatively restricted in its sway, and I suggest, positively harmful. >>
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Replying to @JamesHeartfield @HPluckrose and
>> I guess some will say that's contradictory. But the evidence of widespread opposition to FGM and support for male circumcision is not evidence of hypocrisy, it is evidence that they are two different things.
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Replying to @JamesHeartfield @HPluckrose and
This isn’t a way to address your mistaken claim that there is no harm. Arguing that a defense is unprincipled-but-at-least-it’s-popular hardly makes it better, either. Non-therapeutic genital cutting without consent is unethical. Excluding anyone from that is hypocrisy.
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Replying to @ChooseIntact @HPluckrose and
I think I can decide how I will address the argument.
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Replying to @JamesHeartfield @ChooseIntact and
You have the right to, obviously. It just doesn't work.
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Replying to @JamesHeartfield @ChooseIntact and
It doesn't work logically. I don't have my own logic.
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Replying to @HPluckrose @JamesHeartfield and
If you are going to insist that things are ethical if they have widespread support and no widescale opposition, you have to concede that slavery, the persecution of homosexuals & the denial of rights to women were once ethical & still are in some places.
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Replying to @HPluckrose @JamesHeartfield and
In which case, you are a cultural relativist and have not a leg to stand on if your own cultural norms change in a way you don't like. Much better to have consistent principles of human rights than to go with the majority view.
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Replying to @HPluckrose @ChooseIntact and
I don't think you can say 'cultural relativist' when the culture you are describing is all humanity. What polity in the world outlaws circumcision? It's your position that is eccentric.
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The argument 'It's right if the majority thinks it is' is what is culturally (and temporally) relative. It's not a good argument for MGM if you want to argue against this in other areas - eg women's and LGBT rights.
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