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The Unaborted Socrates: A Dramatic Debate on the Issues Surrounding Abortion Paperback – July 13, 1983

by Peter Kreeft (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 150 ratings
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Is abortion a woman's right?
When does human life begin?
Should we legislate morality?

What would happen if the Socrates of old suddenly appeared in modern Athens? Peter Kreeft imagines the dialog that might ensue with three worthy opponents--a doctor, a philosopher and a psychologist--about the arguments surrounding abortion. Kreeft uses Socratic technique to strip away the emotional issues and get to the heart of the rational objections to abortion. Logic joins humor as Socrates challenges the standard rhetoric and passion of the contemporary debate.

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  1. Print length
    155 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    IVP
  4. Publication date
    July 13, 1983
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.7 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0877848106
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0877848103
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter J. Kreeft (Ph.D., Fordham University) is professor of philosophy at Boston College, where he has taught since 1965. A popular lecturer, he has also taught at many other colleges, seminaries and educational institutions in the eastern United States. Kreeft has written more than fifty books, including Between Heaven and Hell and, with Ronald Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP; Presumed to be 1st as edition is unstated (July 13, 1983)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 155 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0877848106
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0877848103
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 150 ratings

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Peter Kreeft

Peter Kreeft

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---"Beauty" -- The branch of philosophy dealing with aesthetics.

---"C. S. Lewis and Mere Christianity" -- C.S. Lewis' masterpiece

--- Charisms: Visions, Tongues, Healing, etc. (feat. Dave Nevins)

---"Christianity in Lord of the Rings" -- The cleverly disguised role of God

---"Culture War" -- A call to arms, mapping key enemies and battlefields

---"Existence of God" -- A magnificent overview of the arguments

---"Good, True, Beautiful" -- C.S. Lewis on three great transcendentals

---"Happiness" -- How do you get it? Christ's version vs. the world's

---"Heaven" -- The heart's deepest longing

---"Hollywood Screenwriting" -- Encouragement to film's creative storytellers

---"If Einstein Had Been a Surfer" -- Rediscovering intuitive thinking

---"Lord, Liar, or Lunatic" -- The famous argument for Christ's identity

---"Problem of Pain" -- C.S. Lewis's brilliant exposition on suffering and evil

---"Sex in Heaven" -- Imaging the fire of God's love

---"Sexual Reconnection" -- Healing the link between sex & love

---"Shocking Beauty" -- The live character of Christ

---

---

Lecture scheduling and more info:

http://www.peterkreeft.com

--

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
150 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Stuart K. Santiago
5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Read Indeed
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
Professor Peter Kreeft presents the arguments on both sides of the abortion debate through the interaction of Socrates with 3 pro-choice advocates, one an abortion doctor, another an ethicist, and the last a psychologist. By use of the Socratic method, a form of cross-examination commonly used by law professors, Socrates grills each of his opponents on the various issues involved in the abortion debate. Socrates, of course, is pro-life and subjects each of his pro-choice opponents to merciless debate. The logic he employs is extremely compelling, so much so that abortion doctor, ethicist and psychologist end up agreeing with him on many points.

The main issue which all arguments return to is whether the fetus is a human being or person. If the fetus is a human being or person, then abortion is murder. None of Socrates opponents are willing to concede the personhood of the fetus, despite the effectiveness of Socrates arguments. The most that they would concede was that they did not know whether the fetus was a person, although Socrates succeeds in convincing the abortion doctor to admit the folly of killing the fetus when one does not know whether or not the fetus is a human being or person.

Professor Kreeft's dramatic play was fast paced and riveting. Both pro-life and pro-choice advocates would benefit by delving into this masterpiece. Every page provides thought-compelling and irresistible reading.
10 people found this helpful
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Derek Forero
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024
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My son is in 9th grade and enjoyed this book very much.
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Fred Hayward
5.0 out of 5 stars Even better thirty years later!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2013
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I first stumbled on this gem in the mid 80s at Calvin College. It was right around the time my firstborn was conceived thus my keen interest in the topic. I must say the presentation is as powerful today as it was then.

Dr. Kreeft makes the details of the arguments for both sides a bit more approachable by embedding them in an imaginary dialogue. It is witty and entertaining and though I am no expert on philosophy it seems to effectively demonstrate the ability of Socratic logic to strip away pretense, false premise and emotionalism.

Of course post-modern philosophy has proclaimed reason and truth "dead" and such thinking renders the logic in this thin volume nearly worthless. Nonetheless there may still be a few jolly souls that would enjoy trying to poke holes in Dr. Kreeft's dialogues. I would actually welcome such an effort, but haven't found any to date. Feel free to enlighten me if you have seen anyone challenge this imaginary Socrates' way of thinking and provide convincing counter arguments. I'd really like to be challenged by such a response or engage such a person in some friendly dialogue over a drink or two!
5 people found this helpful
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Corum Seth Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Another pros and cons list
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2005
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Overall, I think this book is a fair representation of the issue. The book is a debate among four characters, written like a Socratic dialogue. At the end everybody still basically believes in what they already brought to the table with little or any, change. The question at hand is: Is abortion right or wrong, do circumstances change that answer, and if so, why? All that aside, the four characters:
Socrates- your typical gadfly
Rex Herod- an abortion doctor
Atila Tarian-a utilitarian philosopher who is pro-choice
Pop Syke- a psychologist that tries to discredit Socrates via psychoanalysis

Cons:
1) I am by no means a feminist like some other critics, but I agree that having a woman in this dialogue would be appropriate. In fact, as Kreeft mentions in the book, that men tend to be more pro-choice than women. Most, if not all of the active pro-lifers I know are women! So having a woman here could really only strengthen the argument. Also, just for fairness, adding a pro-choice woman might help.
2) This is just one issue, where try as we might, logic often breaks down. Emotions and subjectivity always enter the discussion, despite our loftiest philosophical intentions.

Pros:
1) I think it defines the real heart of the issue well: Either you believe that a fetus constitutes human life or you do not. Women's rights are important, and women do have the right to go through with this procedure in most countries; what critics must understand is that the morality, and not legality, of this action is the premise of the book.
2) A spinoff of 1, the book demonstrates that morality and legality are not the exact same thing in our country, yet suggests that in a more idealistic sense they probably should be. This argument is right out of Republic, where wisdom and virtue are not very optional.
3) There are 3 people arguing the position that Kreeft dislikes, and only one arguing the alternative. I think most of the best arguments for the "pro-choice" position are articulated within the book (women's rights, democracy cannot legislate morality, fetus is not truly human). If this book was written by a pro-choice apologist, I would expect these arguments to prevail. However, this is not the case and thus people should expect to see counterarguments that are well prepared and delivered. Depending on your stance, this could be a pro or a con.
4) The book is true to life as opponents attack Socrates by calling him a man without compassion; since Roe v. Wade, both sides have often viewed the other as merciless.
5) I don't know why critics say that women's rights is a non-issue in this unfolding argument. Women and their stake in this issue is the main argument of the third and forth characters introduced, Tarian and Syke. I could see how people would dislike the idea that the personhood of the fetus, and not the mother's rights, is the central factor in deciding abortion. However, Kreeft makes a case, a rather strong one, for that being the central issue on the morality of abortion.
6) Again I would like to reiterate that the book brings up a fascinating philosophical question: Just because it is legal, does that make it moral? Should the laws of a country represent moral truths? If so, what would that mean for abortion laws if abortion is immoral?

I've just come to expect 1-star ratings from some of the critics of Kreeft. I might add that as I read their criticisms they don't sound like those of someone who actually read the book. The book covers the major rhetoric that has occurred since Roe v. Wade. I like Kreeft, and thus have a bias that I admit. Nonetheless, I hope my opinion has been helpful to you.
19 people found this helpful
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GenericUser
5.0 out of 5 stars Great content, but too many typos
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2017
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An exceptional work and definitely worth reading several times.
While debating pro choice vs pro life, Socrates seeks peace and common ground with Dr. Rex H. Using the basics of logic and gentle persuasion, he brings his opponent to his side without arguments and anger that leaving both sides hurt and unwilling to see the other side.
Socrates' method is to remain neutral, choosing neither side but simply agreeing to explore and dicover the truth along with Dr. H.
A profound read that will give you logical and solid facts on abortion.
The only reason that I really give it four and a half stars is that the kindle edition has a rather large number of typos, so a little sloppy on the copying.
I wound definitely recommend this book to young and old alike, although perhaps the paper edition.
Fabulous job, Peter Kreeft!
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W. Reid
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, You can Understand these "complex” issues with perfect clarity
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2019
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This is so clear and clean. We live in a world designed to obscure and mystify. We are constantly told that things are complicated and impossible to discern. This book slices around that tumor like a surgeon and restores rationality to its proper place in human life. I heartily recommend this book.
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Jon
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2022
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Loved it I wish every person was encouraged to read this book. Makes you think . And think smarter. Great book!
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Top reviews from other countries

M
4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty great
Reviewed in India on May 13, 2021
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Shorter than I expected. I completed the whole book in a day. But I suppose that's because of the way the book has been written. I think it's a really good treatment of the abortion debate. It doesn't deal with every pro-abortion argument out there, but it does deal with the issue from the perspective of philosophy. There are parts where Kreeft does a really good job breaking things down. The ending seemed a little unsatisfactory for me though. It left me wanting a little more. And I wasn't sure if Kreeft made a strong enough case for the pro-abortion philosopher and psychologist. All in all, the book was pretty good.
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Damian
5.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable, Educational Read....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2018
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Absolutely fantastic read! Each page was fun and educational which was a unique literary feat for such a emotive and upsetting topic.
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The Write Craft
5.0 out of 5 stars Presenting both sides
Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2014
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If you have ever wanted to hear both sides of the debate on abortion, this book is for you! Socrates visits a doctor at an abortion clinic, attends a debate about abortion, and more...this would make a great play.
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