The abortion debate is like an amusement park for a logician. There are so many logical fallacies bandied about that one has an excellent opportunity to sharpen one’s logical tools. This recent example proves the point. @GodsOfRuin engages with @QrysBinThynkn and @MorbiusXIII regarding the volatile topic. It starts off relatively civil but when the positions of @QrysBinThynkn and @MorbiusXIII are logically refuted and they are confronted with cognitive dissonance, they begin ad hominem (you’ve lost it) and red herring (your argument is a moral argument so it doesn’t count) attacks. If logical fallacies don’t appeal to you, you may want to read a brilliant logical assessment of the abortion debate instead.

This fascinating exchange ends when @QrysBinThynkn and @MorbiusXIII block @GodsOfRuin which erases the content of the exchange from public view. I was able to copy the posts before my browser refreshed the content. Enjoy!

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 ‏@QrysBinThynkn 1h
Gov. Perry is trying to pass a medical bill without any medical experience.

 ‏@GodsOfRuin 1h
@WendyDavisTexas is trying to kill a medical bill with no medical experience. #Hmmmm #sb5

 ‏@MorbiusXIII 1h
It’s called free will, n00b. The hallmark of a democracy. No Dr. degree needed to defend it.

‏@GodsOfRuin 59m
not all free actions are created equal. Those which harm other human beings DO need to be defended.

@QrysBinThynkn 57m
Yeah, but abortions harm no one. Fetuses and zygotes are not alive, they are something that MAY lead to life.

@GodsOfRuin 47m
If fetuses aren’t alive, how do they move, circulate blood, think, feel?

@QrysBinThynkn 40m
They rely on their hosts nervous system. Why does you leg respond when touched? Is it independently alive?

‏@GodsOfRuin 39m
You may want to invest in a biology book. Fetuses have independent nervous systems from their mothers.

@QrysBinThynkn 38m
Regardless, it is not alive if it can’t exist outside it’s host without artificial intervention. #dumbass

@GodsOfRuin 35m
A dictionary might be helpful too. Life does not depend on where the organism gets its nutrients.

@QrysBinThynkn 31m
By your definition, cancer cells ‘born’ in a lab and kept living by nutrients are alive & should not be terminated.

@GodsOfRuin 29m
cancer cells are living, but they are not human thus there is no moral objection to killing them.

@MorbiusXIII 28 Jun
Not the issue. Forcing a woman to do what they do not want to do? Rapey, no? Via govt = #fascism

‏@GodsOfRuin 28 Jun
Rape is detestable and immoral. Killing the human offspring of rape does not make it less so.

@QrysBinThynkn 31m
Again, until it’s living and breathing on its own its not ‘alive.’

@GodsOfRuin 29m
Are people who use artificial respiration alive?

@QrysBinThynkn 27m
You have established you are basing your argument on #Christian morals, which most of humanity doesn’t follow.

@GodsOfRuin 24m
Majority opinion is not necessarily truth but I have not used any religious terminology. Mine is a logical and scientific argument.

@MorbiusXIII 26m
His argument is theocracy. And he’s dumb enough to think that oligarchy is democracy. #moron

‏@GodsOfRuin 24m
It appears your argument is ad hominem.

@QrysBinThynkn 25m
I know, an entirely subjective argument with tangents of anything else thrown in to try and confuse us.

@GodsOfRuin 24m
If you are confused, it may be because you have a poor logical or scientific foundation.

@QrysBinThynkn 24m
Sorry, no. The moment you used a ‘moral’ argument you lost. Morality is entirely subjective, not objective.

@GodsOfRuin 23m
When did I bring up morality concerning abortion?

@QrysBinThynkn 21m
Yeah, he seems to be having trouble with logic and reason (objective) vs morality (subjective).

‏@GodsOfRuin 21m
I understand why you want to avoid the question–cognitive dissonance is difficult to face.

@QrysBinThynkn 19m
The cognitive dissonance is yours. Can’t have a discussion based on logic and reason while arguing morality.

‏@GodsOfRuin 19m
You’ve been unable to answer my logical questions so you dismiss my argument as theocracy. #logicalFallacy

‏@GodsOfRuin 19m
Everyone has the right to do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t harm others. Fetuses are others.

‏@MorbiusXIII 18m
Not by law. Your opinions of “life” to the contrary mean absolutely NOTHING. #splash

@GodsOfRuin 16m
If a law says that everyone named David should be terminated, would you be fine with that?

@QrysBinThynkn 15m
What??? LOL!!! You have lost it.

@GodsOfRuin 11m
Avoiding the question is not a quality argument.

You said equated breathing to living but some adults can’t breathe on their own. Are they not alive?

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At that point, @QrysBinThynkn and @MorbiusXIII blocked @GodsOfRuin and the clicking on the posts brought up “Tweet does not exist” error or “@QrysBinThynkn’s account is protected.”

I guess when some people are face to face with their own philosophical contradictions, they ignore them and run away. I would love to engage anyone who is interested and won’t run away. Please comment below.