Introduction:
There are many people who believe
homosexuality is wrong. These individuals have created many arguments
against homosexuality which they believe prove that homosexuality is indeed
wrong. However many of the common arguments are not sound, or incorrect,
because one or more of the premises-reasons for believing homosexuality is
wrong, are faulty. Therefore, the purpose of this blog is to introduce 5 very
common arguments against homosexuality and determine whether they are sound or
not based upon the following definitions:
·
An argument is a set of premises that support the conclusion.
·
A conclusion is true if the premises lead to the conclusions and
the premises are true. A conclusion is false if one or more of
the premises are false.
·
A premise is a true or false statement/reason that supports the
conclusion.
·
An argument is valid if the premises lead to the conclusion. An
argument is invalid if the premises do not lead to the
conclusion.
·
An argument is sound if the argument is valid and all of premises
are true. An argument is not sound if it is not valid and/or the
premises are not all true.
All of
the common arguments are valid, the premises lead to the respective
conclusions. However, the biggest problem is that one of the premises is
usually false. We will prove that a premise is false by providing a
counterexample, an example of when that action is not wrong. Once we can prove
that an action is acceptable for a non homosexuality to partake of but that
same result is a premise for the conclusion that homosexuality is wrong, we can
determine that the argument is in fact not a sound argument.
1.
Homosexuals make
people feel uncomfortable
Any action that
makes people feel uncomfortable is wrong
Therefore,
homosexuality is wrong
This argument is not sound
The original statement
"Homosexuals make people feel uncomfortable" is not always true
Homosexuals do not make everyone
feel uncomfortable
The premise that "Any action
that makes people feel uncomfortable is wrong" is not true.
Counter example: Farting in public makes people
feel uncomfortable but that does not make it wrong
2.
Homosexuals use
body parts in ways they were not intended
Anyone that uses
body parts for ways they were not intended is wrong
Therefore,
homosexuality is wrong
This argument is not sound
The original statement
"Homosexuals use body parts in ways they were not intended" is not
always true
There is know way to know how all
homosexuals use there body parts.
The premise that "Anyone
that uses body parts for ways they were not intended is wrong" is false.
Counter example: If this were true, then it
would be wrong for a cheerleader to use their body to make motions and dances
to lead their teams to victory when the arms are intended for grabbing items
and the legs were intended for walking.
3.
Homosexuality is
contrary to "family values"
If a way of being
is contrary to "family values," then that way of being is wrong
Therefore,
homosexuality is wrong
This argument is not sound
The original statement
" Homosexuality is contrary to "family values" is true
Homosexuality is contrary to the
idea of a Father a Mother and children being a family
The premise that "If a way
of being is contrary to "family values," then that way of being is
wrong" is false
Counter Example: Divorced or
separated parents are contrary to "family values" because the
children do not live with both parents together. However, most people do not
think it is morally wrong in today's society to get a divorce.
4.
Homosexuals are the
targets of hate crimes
Any way of being
that causes someone to be the target of hate crimes is wrong
Therefore,
homosexuality is wrong
This argument is not sound
The original statement
"Homosexuals are the targets of hate crimes" is true
Homosexuals are the targets of
hate crimes
The premise that "Any way of
being that causes someone to be the target of hate crimes is wrong" is
false
Counter Example: Being a certain race can
cause someone to be the target of a hate crime; that does not make it wrong to
be that particular race.
5.
Homosexuality is
Illegal
Any action that is
illegal is wrong
Therefore, homosexuality
is wrong
This argument is not sound
The original statement
"Homosexuality is Illegal" can be true
In some countries it is illegal
to be homosexual, but not all, therefore it is conditional
The premise that "Any action
that is illegal is wrong" is false
Counter Example: It is illegal for someone
someone to steal food to feed there starving family, but that does not make it
wrong
Conclusion:
After reviewing many of the
popular arguments against homosexuality, it is safe to say that majority are
unsound. Most of the arguments do not have true premises to prove that
homosexuality is not morally permissible because not all actions that
lead to that particular result are wrong for all people at all times.
Therefore, we can not say what is permissible for one group of people,
heterosexuals, is not allowed by homosexuals simply because it is a homosexual
act.
Produced by: Ashley
Williams, Joshua Holsey, and Maurice Clark
