Wisdom of repugnance

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The term wisdom of repugnance describes the belief that an intuitive (or "deep-seated") negative response to some thing, idea or practice should be interpreted as evidence for the intrinsically harmful or evil character of that thing. Furthermore, it refers to the notion that wisdom may manifest itself in feelings of disgust towards anything which lacks "goodness" or wisdom, though these feelings may not be immediately explicable through reason. The controversial concept has been characterised as a "disgust-based morality" and is regarded by many as pseudoscientific and an example of the naturalistic fallacy.

1 Origin and usage
2 Criticism
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Origin and usage

The term was coined in 1997 by Leon Kass, former chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics, in an eponymous chapter of his book Life, Liberty, and the Defense of Dignity. In the chapter, Kass stated that disgust was not an argument per se, but went on to say that "in crucial cases...repugnance is the emotional expression of deep wisdom, beyond reason's power fully to articulate it."

The term remains largely confined to discussions of bioethics, and is somewhat related to the term "yuck factor". However, unlike the latter, it is used almost exclusively by those who accept its underlying premise; i.e., that repugnance does, in fact, indicate wisdom. It is thus often viewed as loaded language, and is primarily used by certain bioconservatives to justify their position.

The wisdom of repugnance is often used to justify so-called "knee-jerk" negative reactions to cloning (particularly of humans), genetic engineering, and other contentious subjects. One who adheres to this thesis may consider it unnecessary ("in crucial cases") to examine an issue logically, or to debate dissenting arguments.

The term has since migrated to other controversies, such as same-sex marriage, abortion, pornography, alternative sexualities, and cannabis rescheduling. In all cases, it expresses the view that one's "gut reaction" is sufficient to discredit a sufficiently objectionable premise.

[edit] Criticism

The wisdom of repugnance has been widely criticized, both as an example of a fallacious appeal to emotion and for an underlying premise which seems to reject rationalism. Although mainstream science concedes that a sense of disgust most likely evolved as a useful defense mechanism (e.g. in that it tends to prevent or prohibit potentially harmful behaviour such as incest, cannibalism, and coprophagia), social psychologists question whether the instinct can serve any moral or logical value when removed from the context in which it was originally acquired.

Some critics such as Martha Nussbaum explicitly oppose the concept of a disgust-based morality. Nussbaum notes that disgust has been used throughout history as a justification for persecution. For example, at various times racism, antisemitism, sexism, and homophobia have all been driven by popular revulsion.

Other critics base their criticism on a broader defense of rationalism. Stephen J. Gould, in his 1997 book Full House, remarked that "our prejudices often overwhelm our limited information. [They] are so venerable, so reflexive, so much a part of our second nature, that we never stop to recognize their status as social decisions with radical alternatives - and we view them instead as given and obvious truths."

Most critics of Kass contend that he has committed the naturalistic fallacy, and that his thesis is pseudoscientific and irrational, due to its deference to emotion over reason. His contention has also been criticized as unfalsifiable, since it does not specifically describe what constitutes a "crucial case", nor does it explain why people should react differently when confronted with the same issue.

Kass's real motives for proposing and supporting the concept are also brought into question as a result of his close ties to conservative politicians, and his personal opposition to feminism, gay rights, abortion and other socio-political issues. The wisdom of repugnance has been criticized as an attempt to politicize science, and to justify irrational ideological objections to scientific progress and research.