Introduction to Political Philosophy

The Issue of Gay Marriage

As you read the material for the next class, keep the questions below in mind. To answer these questions you will have to reflect critically on what you have read and possibly re-read important passages. Keep in mind that there are two basic kinds of information that you need to look for in the readings.

1. What are the main points or conclusions that an author accepts with respect to a particular issue?
2. What are the reasons or important considerations that lead the author to accept that conclusion?

For our purposes, it is information of the latter sort (2) that will be our primary concern since our most basic task is to evaluate the reasons that are offered to support accepting one possible conclusion about an issue, rather than another. Although I strongly suggest that you write out brief answers to these questions, you do not have to turn in written responses. You do, however, need to be prepared to speak intelligently to these issues in the next class meeting.

Reading:

• Michael Kinsley, “Abolish Marriage: Let’s really get the government out of our bedrooms” (handout).
• John Finnis, “What's Wrong with Homosexuality?” (handout).
• Stephen Macedo, “Homosexuality and the Conservative Mind” (handout).
• Robin West, “Universalism, Liberal Theory, and the Problem of Gay Marriage” (handout).

Questions:

1. What is Finnis’ argument against homosexuality? Why is same gender sex “destructive of human character and relationships”?
2. How does Macedo respond to Finnis’ argument, which he calls “the new natural law” objection? What other arguments against gay marriage does Macedo consider and how does he respond to them?
3. According to West, why are the equality-based and liberty-based arguments for gay marriage flawed? What corrective for these arguments does he suggest?

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