Book Review: The UnAborted Socrates
Author: Peter Kreeft
Publisher: IVP Books
Published: 1983
This is a short review of the short book, The Unaborted Socrates, by Peter Kreeft (professor of philosophy, Boston College).
As the title suggests, this is a book dealing with the issue of abortion in contemporary culture. The book takes the form of Socratic dialogue between four figures: Socrates, Dr. Rex Herrod (abortionist), Professor Attila Tarian (ethicist) and "Pop" Syke (psychologist). The dialogue takes place in a variety of locations in modern day Athens: an abortion clinic, a philosophy convention and finally, a psychiatric ward.
The dialogue is interesting and funny, Peter Kreeft is a gifted communicator and writer, able to keep the interest of his readers throughout his book. The book is also short, 155 pages. However with that said, the book finishes exactly where it should finish. The dialogue feels neither rushed nor lengethened and the topics in this dialogue cover all the major arguments for and against abortion. Arguments which, it should be noted, Socrates (Kreeft?) definitively refutes. Leaving emotionalism out of the argument, we find the characters of this book discussing the viability of the fetus, the rights of the fetus and the mother, the definition of what it means to be a human being and various other arguments dealing with location, appearance and development of the fetus in relation to its humanity.
Clear, concise, well reasoned and to the point, a recommended read for those interested in the abortion argument.
Related posts:
- Book Review: Socrates Meets Jesus
- Book Review: Three Approaches to Abortion
- Book Review: Between Heaven and Hell
- Book Review: The Making of an Atheist
- Book Review: Making Sense of Suffering
