Beck Can’t Stop Himself From Dealing In Absolutes
Although I don’t lecture people who disagree with me, as a vegetarian and an animal rights activist, I would be one of those people who would say “No” when asked, “Do you eat meat? Do you wear leather shoes, or a leather belt?”
I think it was Obi-Wan-Kenobi who said:
Only Siths deals in absolutes.
The reason why Obi-Wan said that is because dealing in absolutes is intellectually lazy. It is cognitively easier to not have to deal with nuanced views about issues.
Though I don’t think Beck is a Sith, he frequently deals in absolutes. Think about it, it is Beck’s contention that unless you don’t eat meat, you have no business caring about the Mother Earth, and therefore you should shut your “pie hole” about the environment.
Beck (believe it or not) is absolutely correct that if you want to really make a significant difference in the environment, you should stop eating meat. The problem is very few are advocating for people to stop eating meat (I think everyone should stop eating meat simply for good karma). A simple reduction in the amount of meat consumed would have a dramatic effect on climate change.
According to the New Scientist, cutting back on beefburgers and bacon could wipe $20 trillion off the cost of fighting climate change. So even if you are a global warming denier, like Glenn Beck, you and the economy could still benefit greatly from a reduction in meat consumption.
Driving a Prius may not be as beneficial as cutting meat out of one’s diet, but just because someone eats meat, does not mean that they should not try to reduce their carbon footprint in other ways.
There are several “absolute” arguments I could make against Beck that would make him a hypocrite. Here is one:
Something that Glenn Beck talks about frequently, is the United States’ refusal to break free of our dependence on foreign oil. Yet all Beck does is brag about how no one is going to tell him that he can’t drive his SUV.
He is right, no one is going to tell him he can’t drive his SUV, but how can he talk about our addiction to oil, when he is one of the biggest addicts?
Now, I am sure Beck would say that he wants the United States to invest in other sources of energy, like nuclear, coal, or even domestic oil. But even if we did drill domestically for oil, it is going to run out eventually so that is not a long term solution; and we currently do not have nuclear powered, or coal powered cars with the exception of electric cars that can harness the energy created by nuclear plants and coal. I don’t think Beck is going to be driving an electric SUV anytime soon.
But there is a bigger problem with Beck on this issue. If Beck were truly concerned about our addiction to foreign oil, shouldn’t he be doing everything in his power to minimize the amount of oil, regardless of whether or not the government is trying to solve the problem?
So I guess we can say that until Glenn Beck drives an electric car, he should shut his pie hole.
The truth is, the idea that Beck needs to drive an electric car just to be concerned about our addiction on foreign oil is absurd. The same goes for Al Gore not being sincere about his concern for the environment because he flies in planes; or someone who is wealthy can’t be concerned with about the welfare of the poor. All of these arguments are fallacies and examples of someone being an absolutist.
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:18 am
[...] House Nancy Pelosi sort of suggested that any American citizen who dared voice an objection in …Beck Can't Stop Himself From Dealing In Absolutes | Progress …Although I don't lecture people who disagree with me, as a vegetarian and an animal rights activist, [...]
Report Abuse