Kuznicki Defends the Divine Right of Kings, Film at 11 : Dispatches from the Culture Wars

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Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media and the host of Declaring Independence, a one hour weekly political talk show on WPRR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(static)

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Kuznicki Defends the Divine Right of Kings, Film at 11

Posted on: March 14, 2006 4:26 PM, by Ed Brayton

Jason Kuznicki has decided to declare an "opposite day", wherein he defends an idea he disagrees with and attempts to do so without making a parody of that position. He chose to defend the divine right of kings, an idea that is anathema to his libertarian mindset. I was asked to give it a shot as well, but to try and make the strongest argument I can for ID, while an ID advocate would make the strongest argument against it that he can. I have too much on my plate at this point to devote the time to that project, but I might take him up on that offer sometime in the future.

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Sure does sound like parody to me. Interesting idea, but he still makes the argument to a 17th century audience.

Posted by: Matthew | March 14, 2006 5:07 PM

Its well written and I think the "opposite day" idea is fantastic, but I would have preffered seeing an argument for absolutism that was not grounded upon belief in God. I got a few lines in and I had already dismissed the argument because it rested upon something I believe does not exist.

Considering today's atmosphere, learning to counter such arguments in their strongest form may prove invaluable.

Posted by: Hume's Ghost | March 14, 2006 5:29 PM

I agree that it is a good idea, if for no other reason than to further one's understanding of one's own beliefs. I also agree that the argument should have been for some sort of dictatorship rather than "devine right of kings," since that rests on an assumption that there is a divinity. It's hard to make a rational argument for an unprovable belief, as we all know.

Posted by: Mark Paris | March 14, 2006 5:57 PM