Merely Human Jay Watts

Season 3 Episode 3

This episode starts out with a discussion of the diabolical behavior of roosters as highlighted in an old Scientific American article. Segment two disucsses Herman Melville, his posthumously published book Billy Budd the Sailor, and the attraction of art produced by people in spiritual crisis or flux. Segment three focuses on Vice-President Kamala Harris visiting an abortion facility, and asks the question, “If abortion is so great, why didn’t we get a complete tour of the facility and see it in all of its glory?”

The final segment addresses a family of arguments by those who support abortion. The idea that as the unborn age through the embryonic and fetal stages they progress toward full membership in the human family through the acquisition of multiple new capacities. There is no one single ability or capacity that is value giving, rather there is a constellation which cumulatively change the nature of unborn life to something fully human. To give the discussion focus and structure, we rely on highlights from Christopher Kaczor’s responses in his book The Ethics of Abortion.

After discussing his deep dislike for chimpanzees, this episode focuses on the recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court determining that under Alabama law the human embryo in vitro (in glass) is considered a child just as a human embryo in vivo (in the living) is under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act.
 
The ruling is addressed with a focus on three main points:
 
1)    The Supreme Court of Alabama did not declare the embryo is a child. Alabama law already does that. It declared in vitro embryos could not be excluded from recognition by virtue of their location. Whether in vitro or in vivo, a human embryo is a human child.
2)    The definition of human child offered in the decision is not unclear. Immediate human progeny is a child at every stage of its development. Unlike the term baby, this isn’t confusing or emotional. The case offers multiple definitions to clarify what it means when the law states an embryo is a child.
3)    One concurring opinion discusses the sanctity of life in theological terms. The majority decision does not mention religious reasons for the decision. The headlines and handwringing over religious interference is misplaced.
 
In short, before people get hysterical online and panic, they ought to actually read the legal decisions the press is doing such a shoddy job describing.

Season 3 kicks off with Jay speaking about Taylor Swift and The Godfather.

2023 Christmas Special by Jay Watts

The Final Episode of Season 2: Despair in our World

Jim Trotti, a professional counselor for young people, joins the show to discuss despair and the roots of despair in young people. His insight is surprisingly practical.

In segment one, Jay makes the claim Roy Orbison’s vocal performance in the song Crying is possibly the greatest vocal performance in contemporary. If you know a better one, please make your case.

Segment two explores the idea that musicians and many of the people who create culture are nowhere near as snobby about their tastes as those who gatekeep their music are. Dave Grohl loves disco and funk drumbeats. Martin Scorcese knows every line from every movie, good and bad, because he loves movies. The point is don’t be a snob, just like what you like.

Segment three, Christmas music starts in November. Mariah Carey conquered the contemporary Christmas music world. If you hate the song All I Want for Christmas, you live in a conquered world. Act accordingly.

The last topic before Jim Trotti joins the show, happiness is discussed. Happiness isn’t a legitimate central life goal, but it is great. And the first part of the sow is for Jay, to remind him that being silly and happy is an important part of being a whole human being.

Jim Trotti joins the show and discusses the three things he sees missing in the lives of young people the lack of which leads to despair. Three things that are lacking in the lives of young people today:

1) Foundation of Family Values
2) Emotional Control
3) Depth of Thinking

Introduction to Opposite Day, the day we discuss issues surrounding abortion and not the moral case against abortion. I usually stick to a disciplined approach to defending the dignity of human life, keep the main thing the main thing. Today we venture out from those things to discuss the book Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing by Ryan T. Anderson and Alexandra DeSanctis.

Before that I discuss a very particular aspect of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, some actions have no moral context. Some actions, the murder of innocent children and intentional targeting of civilians, are simply evil. There is context to the greater conflict, but no action by one party can ever morally justify the murder of families while they sleep. I also explain how I try not to speak publicly about things I don’t fully understand. People claiming to be experts of what is happening on the ground when reliable information is impossible to have. Humility requires me to not feel compelled to share my every thought about world events. Neither God nor the leadership of Israel are taking advice from Jay Watts, and ranting about such things on social media don’t make me a hero. They make me reckless.