That's the way I would read it.
I think that Wolpe is in fact challenging that conclusion -- saying
that sexual orientation can be based in biology, but if the
underlying mechanisms can be manipulated then the conclusion of
immutability does not follow from the biological basis.
At 4:20 PM -0600 2/10/07, Rick Froman wrote:
At 2:23 PM -0600 2/10/07, Rick Froman wrote:
Can anyone explain to me the logic behind this quote from the article:
"If the mechanisms underlying sexual orientation can be discovered
and manipulated, Dr. Wolpe continued, then the argument that sexual
orientation is based in biology and is immutable 'evaporates'".
Since when are "biological" and "immutable" synonymous?
Paul Brandon wrote:
I don't see where this implies that the two statements are synonymous.
These are two different statements that are often made about sexual
orientation.
It is often assumed that the second (immutability) follows from the
first (based in biology).
That is, if we demonstrate that sexual orientation has a biological
basis, then we have demonstrated that it cannot be changed.
While I approve of the sentiments (gay rights) behind this
assumption, I don't find it scientifically convincing.
And of course, from a monist point of view, ALL behavior is based in biology.
Rick continues:
Synonymous was probably an incorrect usage. I think Dr. Wolpe is
clearly implying that immutability follows from biology. His use of
the singular "argument" leads me to hear a
"therefore" between "is" and "immutable".
Rick
Dr. Rick Froman
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Content-Type: text/plain;
name="footer.txt"
Content-Description: footer
Content-Disposition: attachment;
filename="footer.txt"
Attachment converted: HD2:footer 142.txt (TEXT/TBB6) (00109FB8)
--
* PAUL K. BRANDON [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* Psychology Department 507-389-6217 *
* 23 Armstrong Hall Minnesota State University, Mankato *
* http://krypton.mnsu.edu/~pkbrando/ *
---
To make changes to your subscription go to:
http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
