The Silent Subject: Reflections on the Unborn in American Culture

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The essays in this work constitute a sensitive, public argument for a reconstruction of the confused - yet dominant - popular attitudes toward nascent human life and its value. Unlike most pro-life arguments, it offers no strictly religious or exclusively sectarian warrants for its assertions instead bearing a more secular cast, speaking to a generalised and pluralistic audience. As a whole, "The Silent Subject" embraces no specific, particular political ideology. Its contributors have a broad spectrum of professional interests, political perspectives and social philosophies - all of which indicates the fundamentally humanistic and apolitical nature of concern for the unborn and the degree to which they are esteemed.

Reviews

"Brad Stetson is to be commended for intelligently introducing and editing this well-organized group of essays on the moral issue that is to our time what human sacrifice was to Carthage, genocide to Germany, and slavery to the old South. Reading it will expand the vision of both defenders and attackers of unborn human lives, and thus contribute, however modestly, to the salvation of our civilization. The variety of perspectives--ethical, cultural, personal, religious, and legal--multiplies the power of the argument, like multiple witnesses. I do not think the pro-choice media establishment will dare to acknowledge the existence of this book. For I do not see how any reasonable and open-minded person can ever be "pro-choice" again after reading it."-Peter Kreeft, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy, Boston College
"I believe [the pro-life movement] has by now obtained the victory of opinion so far as evidence is concerned. The next battle is that of duty or obligation--a far tougher one but one to which The Silent Subject makes a strategic contribution."- William B. Allen, Ph.D. former Chairman, United States Commission on Civil Rights Dean, James Madison College, Michigan State University
"The Silent Subject should help replace heat with light as America continues to debate the most urgent civil rights issue of our generation."- George Weigel, president Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, D.C.
(These essays are) interesting and informative, while some are so profoundly moving as to almost overshadow the rest of the book...This book demonstrates that the truth about the nature of abortion is taking its toll on those who would deny that truth; and that falsehood never leaves those who indulge in it unscathed.-The Interim
Brings out the lively academic dimension of pro-life America...The book is a rich assortment, and the reader has the sense of dipping into the extended reflections of distinguished philosophers, sociologists, doctors, and lawyers. If you are tired of the image of pro-life folk as mindless zealots, you might discover a new world opening up.-Crisis
This collection of essays has a psychological effect much like night thoughts, those disturbing images that can come to mind while you lie awake....When it comes to abortion, most of us have our heads in the sand. The worst part is that our sense of moral outrage on the subject has been nearly extinguished....This is a chilling book, which offers...fresh insights, and thus some rare encouragement.-National Review
Written from a pro-life perspective, this anthology will have an appeal to those pro-choicers interested in seeing what the most measured of their critics are saying....For pro-lifers and pro-choicers intent on reasoning rather than haranguing regarding abortion, Stetson's anthology will be a welcome addition.-Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political and Legal Philosophy
"(These essays are) interesting and informative, while some are so profoundly moving as to almost overshadow the rest of the book...This book demonstrates that the truth about the nature of abortion is taking its toll on those who would deny that truth; and that falsehood never leaves those who indulge in it unscathed."-The Interim
"Brings out the lively academic dimension of pro-life America...The book is a rich assortment, and the reader has the sense of dipping into the extended reflections of distinguished philosophers, sociologists, doctors, and lawyers. If you are tired of the image of pro-life folk as mindless zealots, you might discover a new world opening up."-Crisis
"Written from a pro-life perspective, this anthology will have an appeal to those pro-choicers interested in seeing what the most measured of their critics are saying....For pro-lifers and pro-choicers intent on reasoning rather than haranguing regarding abortion, Stetson's anthology will be a welcome addition."-Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political and Legal Philosophy
"This collection of essays has a psychological effect much like night thoughts, those disturbing images that can come to mind while you lie awake....When it comes to abortion, most of us have our heads in the sand. The worst part is that our sense of moral outrage on the subject has been nearly extinguished....This is a chilling book, which offers...fresh insights, and thus some rare encouragement."-National Review

Author Bio

BRAD STETSON is director of the David Institute, a social research organization. Stetson received his Ph.D. in Social Ethics from the University of Southern California. His previous books include: Challenging the Civil Rights Establishment, coauthored by Joseph G. Conti (Praeger, 1993) and Pluralism and Particularity in Religious Belief (Praeger, 1994).