Phobias and Homosexuality
William F. Vallicella at Maverick Philosopher recently commented on a few politically correct terms which have become used and abused in our present culture. The first term he responds to is homophobia. Here is what he says:
Homophobia - A phobia is an irrational fear. But one could be morally opposed to homosexual practices without having any fear of them, let alone an irrational fear of them. ‘Homophobia’ is thus a question-begging epithet. People who use it beg the question against their opponents: they presuppose what they need to argue for, namely, that there cannot be any reasonable moral opposition to homosexual practices. The tactic here is to psychologize the opponent so as to make it appear that opposition could only have an irrational origin in some psychological defect. Leftists and liberals use terms like ‘homophobia’ to close off debate and render genuine issues intellectually invisible. No doubt some lefties are just along for the ride linguistically speaking: they do not consciously aim at closing off debate; they parrot a term they have heard others parrot. I suggest they stop being linguistic lemmings.
Whatever one’s stand on this issue, it is a genuine one that ought not be occluded by the use of a silly PC expression. Note that I haven’t taken any position on the morality of homosexual practices. My point is the more subtle one that the issue ought not be hidden from view by the use of a question-begging and question-burying epithet.
I could not agree more. Labeling a person who is opposed to the practice of homosexuality on the basis of moral opposition is a cheap (and often effective) way of stopping the conversation. I oppose the practice of homosexuality because I think that it is immoral. I oppose extramarital sexual relations because I think that it is immoral. With what perjorative term will I be labeled for my opposition to this practice? Adulteraphobic? I oppose murder on moral grounds, so I suppose I am homocidophobic! Relegating moral opposition to an irrational fear does nothing to encourage meaningful debate about any issue. We would all do well to refrain from labeling those who disagree with our viewpoints as irrational unless we have established that the basis for their viewpoint is truly an irrational fear.