Okay, here's what I want my Philo students to post on. As we have learned in class, one philosophical tool to help engage in moral discourse that is not interminable is to try to understand the web of beliefs and practices that make sense of a particular moral issue. For example, abortion is a very common practice, over a million a year. And many defend abortion to the nth degree. Why? What other B's and P's hold abortion in its place as something to be defended within certain worldviews. What values are being sought after, what other practices are related to it? So, to use our friendly molecular structure, what are the other elements of the paradigm that defends abortion? Think of beliefs as the connecting lines and practices as other atoms in the molecule.
Again, let me say an analysis like this that looks at B's and P's and history, language and culture is not the last step in the process of moral philosophy using postmodern tools. Rather it is the first. Once you understand someone's framework, you can show how this or that practice is or is not coherent with the values their framework attempts to uphold.
So first things first, let's be specific, let's name the beliefs and practices that situate a defense of abortion. Perhaps you think the BP network that justifies abortion is simply incoherent, lacking any structure. If so, say so. Perhaps your focus is on how social conditions give rise to abortion, perhaps on how feminism does, perhaps how a legal framework does. There are many angles from which to view this.
22 comments:
I think that the beliefs and practices that this country was founded on do not support abortion, thus making the bp network of the abortion defense incoherent. The country, created under one God, was intended to practice rights for every human created by God. Certainly we then believe anything that happens after conception was created by God, giving it the right to life. This makes abortion murder and eliminates all coherence with the abortion defense bp network.
I agree that any defense of abortion is largely incoherent. However, the ideals on which this county was founded were the creation of a government strong enough to ensure its own continuation, but limited enough to allow self-determination. This self-determination is secured under the "blessing of liberty" which the constitution vows to uphold. Any law that seeks to undermine this self-determination is unconstitutional.
I feel that making abortion illegal does little to fix the problem at hand. Nearly 22% of abortions are performed on women ages 19 to 15. Perhaps we, as a country, should be making an effort to educate these women on safe sex. Making abortion illegal only hurts those that obey the law and/or truly need an abortion for medical reasons, because clearly making an action illegal does not stop it from occurring.
Why is that any discussion about the constitution also involves worship at the alters of the founding fathers? Many act as if what they wrote is unfalable. The reason amendments are called amendments is because they amend, they fix mistakes and are not written in stone. The bill of rights is supposed to evolve with the times, so for us to say that this how the fathers would have decided the issue on abortion is ludicrous. It is not the constitution's fault that abortion is legal, it is the society that we live in today. It is our responsibility to decide the abortion issue, not the dated constitution.
Some people have abortions becuase the way their b.p. networks brought them up. I personally believe that abortion is wrong for any reason. But i do see why some people get abortions. Some people see the idea that if they keep the child they will not be able to get an education or get kicked out of their house. I do not in any way support these ideas becuase i believe if they made the choice to have sex they must understand the consequences. abortion debate is something that will go on for the ages therefore i think more people need to become educated on the subject before they can form their own opinion.
I agree with Eric that the legality of abortion is not going to solve anything. We need to educate about safe sex. I would also like to add to that. I was listening to someone who was for abortion and he said the best thing I could think of that people should do if they are truly pro-life. He said, "Here's my real theory, though: If you're so pro-life and you're so pro-child, then adopt one that's already here, that's very unwanted and very alone and needs someone to take care of it to get it out of a horrible situation." Just something to think about if the children is what you really care about. Something which has not been brought up in our discussion but which I think is a big reason for this debate is that those who think humans have "souls" are against abortions whereas those who for abortion think there is no afterlife (for the most part). From this they define when life starts. Both sides are completely plausible if you start with the specific group's premise.
I do not think that America's BP network is coherent. On one hand the American people see themselves as a shining example of freedom humanitarianism and protector of the weak. Then we turn around and legalize and in some cases advocate the murder of those who represent the epitome of who we fancy ourselves the protector of. I would love to hear an argument that places abortion coherently in America's BP network.
Alex is right, America's BP network is not coherent. How can anyone morally justify an abortion? Human life is sacred and i believe that conception is when life starts. God implants a soul into that tiny cell, and the result is new life. Every second after conception the cell is a new life, and aborting a developing baby is wrong. That zygote should be given an opportunity to grow and develope Experts say when the organism’s DNA is established is when life begins. If this is true, then life begins at conception.
ALex laid out a challenge, which pertains to Robert's post. He says that one of the "ligaments" that binds abortion to a network of beliefs and practices is the belief in no afterlife. I wonder if most supporters of legal abortion would say that. And Robert, you seemed to say you are not eager to have law banning abortion. So for you what other beliefs do you have about the law that makes sense of legaizing abortion?
When it pertains to making laws I am for as little government control as possible and for as many freedoms as possible. I was definitely for the partial-birth abortion ban. I believe that abortion would only be ok if the woman found out in the very early stages. Also I think the birth control pills you explained are fine as well. I think an issue which a lot of Catholics seem to be for, which is as important as abortion is the issue of capital punishment. This is an obvious case of killing human life, no question. Yet a lot of Catholics are for it. I'd like to see someone defend that in their Catholic BP network. I know and visit a man on death row who is Catholic and is going to be killed most likely at the end of this year and I find this very hypocritical if they are going to call themselves "pro-life."
While the debate over when personhood really begins may never be resolved, the dispute over abortion could be another story. With irresponsible fathers, rapes, and teenage mothers resulting in millions of unwanted pregnancies every year, the lives of millions of potential children are left at the hands of the mothers. Aborting these ‘children’ seems like a logical route to avoiding their problems, but faith saves many of these mothers from falling into the trap of abortion, and in turn saves the lives of their defenseless fetuses. While abortion is legal, it is almost unfair to give women the impression that it is right. Abortion is unfair not only to the fetus, but also to the mother, who is often left guilt stricken, and the father, who has no control over the fate of his conceived child. While I personally believe that abortion should be illegal, I am also aware that this belief might not fit into everyones network... but I can think of a few ideas that might... Many aborted fetuses have reached the point of viability, i.e. if instead of being scraped out of the womb of the mother, the child was delivered, it would be able to surivive outside the womb, and one day be cared for. But this isn't a human? Killing these growing humans is like crushing a robin’s egg; don’t you still feel guilty even though this mangled little chick hasn’t hatched from its egg? A bird in it's shell is still a bird, a snake in it's shell is still a snake, and a child in it's mother is still a human. The argument on abortion should not come down to documents and court decisions, the morality of abortion is built into our human nature.
I feel that the BP network of this country will always allow abortion because people always look for the easy way out. Instead of respecting the life of a child they abort it becuase its more convinent for them, and by "them" i am not just refering to the mother but both the mother and the father. Some may argue that it's a womens choice, but she chose to have sex, except in cases of rape, so how many choices do they want, will it come to an extreme point that if a mother wants a girl instead of a boy she can abort the child because its her choice, of course not. Sometimes people have to take responsiblity for their actions.
I believe that everyone has their own beliefs and practices and how we are brought up has to do with how we live our lives and the lessons we have learned from our parents and society around us. I think abortion is completely wrong and I don't see how women could even possibly think of wanting to kill their baby. There are many other options that women could do instead of abortion. One particular option would be adoption. My parents adopted my oldest brother. They got him right away when he was an infant. I believe that adoption should definately be in considertation instead of having an abortion.
Many peoples beliefs are based on bias. The bias that women should have "right to choose" is just masking the word, murder. When a unexpected pregency happends the mother should take the responsibilty what she should have been aware of being having sex. I not even saying you have to raise the child, put it up for adoptions. Just becuase it is to inconvience to be prgenant for 9 mouths isent a reason to kill.
It is impossible to place abortion into any coherent belief system. Does anyone truly believe that abortion is a good thing and all women should be getting them?
The BP network of America and Americans puts emphais on preservation of life and peace. Abortion does not fit into this network in any way and absolutely does not promote and actual virtues. If a woman is pregnant and she is murdered, the murderer is charge with double homicide. NASA spends billions of dollars looking for life on other planets- life being the smallest fossilized bacteria. Women have he freedom, liberty, and choice to have sex and use contraception. Once they become pregnant, the choice is no longer theirs because another life is involved. Life is not determined by location (i.e. place in a mother's womb) and America needs to realize that abortion does not pomote the Bs, Ps, and virtues it wishes to have.
Tom made a good point when he said that abortion will always be in the American belief system because we always look for the easy way out, an I agree with him 100%. I try not to take too harsh of a stance on abortion like i do on other issues because I tend to make enemies when I argue about abortion. I believe that it is wrong and that is where I will leave it.
Both Eric and Andy are correct and make very good points. I too believe that abortion is a wrong thing to have. the beliefs of the country and the beliefs of individuals are not in the same boat. the country believes in a stronger government and listening to the citizens of the country. a individual could believe in a handful of stuff. not necessarily a stronger government. people are always going to have different beliefs, this is why we are called Americans, because are given that choice to believe whatever we want.
The BP network of our founding fathers definitely does not support abortion. Their network was centered around LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They were founding a new country in order to practice their own personal beliefs. However, today's America has an almost completely different BP network. America's network is centered around money, social status, and success. If an unwanted pregnancy is going to impede them from achieving money, social status, or success, then they want to get rid of the "problem". People today are losing their backbone. No one has the courage to stand up and take responsibility for their actions. If they come across a problem, they try to find the most convenient way out. They don't look to solve problems, they look for a way out of them.
Angela says:It is a very sad state of affairs that there are so many children being murdered at many stages of life. Our culture is so enwrapped with me, me ,me, it's all about me. So, because of this an abortion is a viable concept for people they they choose to utilize. One of the saddest things that I ever saw on tv was a young woman choosing to have an abortion and they showed it on Ch.34. She was crying as she was having it because she realized that it was her child she was doing this to, but, as she stated in tears was that she was afraid that it would take the little bit of food that she was able to provide, ands that she already had children. This young woman was in despair, I know personally since I work with Hannah's house that these young woman will choose to keep their child if help is provided, as of yet I have not met one willing to give their child up, my hat goes off to these young courageous girls, for most are in high school who are standing for the moral choice and love their babies. My suggestion would be to help out even more these young people. We need more places like this, also there is a waiting list to get into this place, and God bless the people who fund all of this.
From GRIFF:
Okay, a response to Harrison et al (and others):
You said of the Founding Fathers,
"Their network was centered around LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They were founding a new country in order to practice their own personal beliefs. However, today's America has an almost completely different BP network. America's network is centered around money, social status, and success."
But Harrison, if the Founding Fathers believed that practicing one's "personal beliefs" was a key / the key principle to our BP network, then wouldn't that support those who "choose" abortion as their "personal belief?" In this sense, isn't abortion coherent within your interpretation of the Founding Fathers?"...
Neumann Jonss,
I will hone in on one particular stance some people take in defense of practicing abortion. I have seen stickers of and heard some women say, in regards to having an abortion, "My body, my choice." Now there is an inherent flaw in this, and it also relates to tragedies which have occurred nigh since humanity first dwelt upon the earth; namely, that one person owns another, so as to take away that person's ihherent, God-given rights, as in slavery. In actuality, the blastocyst is seperate from the mother's body, while at the same time being entirely dependent upon her in order to live. The mother is a carrier, not an owner, of the life that is inside her, AND, therefore, has the grave and beautiful responsibility to bring this tiny person to birth.
I dont think abortion fits in a catholic persons BP network, but I do think it is part of the American BP network. Abortions are legal as is "the pill" and other such things that stop the creation of human life. Jesus embraced life and when we read the bible something like abortion just does not fit.
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