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A fetus generally isn't believed to be a conscious entity (nor is a newborn for that matter). The important distinction vs. a kidney is more that it's something

by rory 4y ago

A fetus generally isn't believed to be a conscious entity (nor is a newborn for that matter). The important distinction vs. a kidney is more that it's something that likely will become conscious in the future. The question of abortion is really interesting in that it scratches at a deeper moral question-- precisely why do we consider murder to be wrong? In my view, there are a few different reasons. One is that we are preventing future consciousness for a being by ending the body's ability to be conscious. That one certainly applies to abortion. But another is that we hurt the people that have relationships with or dependencies on that conscious being. That one doesn't apply to abortion at all.

nxmnxm99 4y ago
The latter isn’t a valid argument, because it would suggest the morality of murdering someone depends entirely on how many friends they have But you’ve hit on my overarching point. The current pro choice argument is largely nonsense because the atheistic position doesn’t have a good answer to the “why is murder wrong” question. If you don’t consider life sacred, the majority of our legal system unwinds. It gets even worse considering the pro choice cadre is also anti death penalty The west is only now truly grappling with Nietzsches God is Dead and few realize it
- rory 4y ago
  > The latter isn’t a valid argument, because it would suggest the morality of murdering someone depends entirely on how many friends they have I think you misunderstand my point. There are many reason murder is harmful, and abortion applies equally for some but not all of them. So the morality doesn't depend "entirely" on any of them (including the two I listed). I do actually think its worse to e.g., kill a husband and a father of young children, compared to killing a hermit with no social ties. And it seems like society feels the same way-- otherwise we wouldn't hear about how victims are "a father of five" in tragic news stories.

by rory 4y ago

nxmnxm99 4y ago

The latter isn’t a valid argument, because it would suggest the morality of murdering someone depends entirely on how many friends they have But you’ve hit on my overarching point. The current pro choice argument is largely nonsense because the atheistic position doesn’t have a good answer to the “why is murder wrong” question. If you don’t consider life sacred, the majority of our legal system unwinds. It gets even worse considering the pro choice cadre is also anti death penalty The west is only now truly grappling with Nietzsches God is Dead and few realize it

rory 4y ago
> The latter isn’t a valid argument, because it would suggest the morality of murdering someone depends entirely on how many friends they have I think you misunderstand my point. There are many reason murder is harmful, and abortion applies equally for some but not all of them. So the morality doesn't depend "entirely" on any of them (including the two I listed). I do actually think its worse to e.g., kill a husband and a father of young children, compared to killing a hermit with no social ties. And it seems like society feels the same way-- otherwise we wouldn't hear about how victims are "a father of five" in tragic news stories.