Tournament: Bronx | Round: 1 | Opponent: Scarsdale ZE | Judge: Dan Lowenstein
I affirm.
The resolution is not a question of the implementation of an opt-out organ procurement policy, but rather a question of competing claims to the entitlement of organs. The aff advocacy is that the claim of one who is need of an organ outweighs the claim of one who is declared dead and has not made their preference for organ donation known. Rodriguez clarifies: “No Means No, But Silence Means Yes? The Policy and Constitutionality of the Recent State Proposals for Opt-Out Organ Donation Laws” 7 FIU L. Rev. 149. Sara Naomi Rodriguez: J.D., 2012, Florida International University College of Law.
“Under the usual … presumed consent systems.”
Next, I defend a framework of absurdism.
First, the human need for objective understanding of the world is incoherent because thought reduces the world to a sphere of human understanding. Thought reduces an inhuman world to the realm of the human. Camus writes: “The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays” 1942. Albert Camus: Nobel Laureate.
“A step lower …stifle our hopes.”
Second, even if human thought could potentially grasp the essence of the world, quantum theory renders this understanding impossible. Kundert: “Absurdity and the Meaning of Life” Matthew P. Kundert. No date.
“Ah, now the …universe is absurd.”
Third, death renders human quests for meaning pointless. Because death is inevitable, meaning is illusory. Camus 2: “The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays” 1942. Albert Camus: Nobel Laureate.
“This is why …assurance of eternity?”
Fourth, institutions created to instill meaning upon the world have repeatedly failed. Only absurdism can acknowledge the persistent confusion as a result of these institutions. Other ethical theories discount realities of human experience. Genovese: “Meaningful Meaninglessness: Albert Camus ' Presentation of Absurdism as a Foundation for Goodness” 5/1/2010. Maria K. Genovese: Salve Regina University.
“By the early …inherently meaningless world.”
Fifth, the paradox of god makes meaning illusory. Either an all-powerful god exists and humans aren’t responsible for evil, in which case human actions have illusory and uncontrolled meaning, or god doesn’t exist, in which case there’s no being to put transcendent meaning in the world and all human constructs of meaning are illusory. Camus 3: “The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays” 1942. Albert Camus: Nobel Laureate.
“If I remain…of this paradox.”
Thus, I contend that absurdism gives more weight to the living than to the dead for organs. There are four warrants:
First, since the absurd debases all other ethical judgments which apply ethical meaning to the world, all conclusions must be based upon the absurd. However, since the absurd only exists in so far as each human experiences the world, we must prioritize human experience. Camus 4: “The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays” 1942. Albert Camus: Nobel Laureate.
“Knowing whether or …that is hypothetical.”
Second, since all humans are in a constant struggle to affirm life and meaning, they must apply the value they put into their own lives into the lives of others. This would render the claims of those who are dead to their organs illegitimate. Genovese 2 furthers:
“Social action that …compassion, and love.”
Third, the absurd implies that sensory experiences are the basis of all values and thus ought to be promoted above all else. Genovese 3:
“In The Myth …can be – helped.”
Fourth, the only response to the fact that the human condition is absurd is to recognize this condition. The human condition and the reality of death crushes humans and only resisting death is the logical response to this conflict. Blanchard writes: “Albert Camus’s Meditative Ascent: A Search for Foundations in the Plague” August 2006. Brian J. Blanchard: B.A. Louisiana State University 2003. Written as a thesis.
“According to Camus…expression of solidarity.”
Underview:
Skep Affirms.
prefer aff interps
Drop the argument on T