For part one of this series, go here. For part two of this series, go here. Section 4. Is abortion unjust killing? Thomson begins this section by considering that “in the most ordinary sort of case, to deprive someone of what he has a right to is to treat him unjustly.” She illustrates this with […]
[Today’s entry is re-posted from “Yeah, but…“] Stumbled upon this Elle story about men who don’t want to be fathers but are “forced”* to by their pregnant partners. Dubay’s argument was that while his girlfriend was permitted by the Constitution to end her pregnancy for any reason, he had no comparable right, in violation of […]
[Today’s entry is re-posted from “Yeah, but…“] We hear a lot about bodily rights during the abortion debate. Moving beyond the abortion debate to society in general, I think it’s clear that bodily rights are fundamental. It seems most other pro-lifers think it’s clear too. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a pro-lifer that says they’d […]
For part one of this series, click here. Section 1. The “extreme” pro-life view. [1] I agree with Thomson that the view that abortion is impermissible even to save the mother’s life is an extreme pro-life view. I believe that abortions are justified if the mother’s life is in immediate jeopardy. [2] She does wonder […]
Probably the most famous argument against the pro-life position is Judith Jarvis Thomson’s Violinist Analogy, in which you are attached, against your will, to a famous unconscious violinist to prevent his dying from a kidney ailment. I have already responded to the violinist analogy in previous articles. But within the original essay where the violinist […]
[Today’s post is re-posted from “Yeah, but…“] There are many important factors in the abortion debate. I try to weigh all factors in forming my perspective. I am pro-life, but I don’t pick the side lightly. It seems the only options are restricting a woman’s control over her body or allowing the unrestricted killing of […]
Recently Secular Pro-Life participated in an abortion debate at the Texas FreeThought Convention. Pro-life atheist Kristine Kruszelnicki and pro-choice atheist Matt Dillahunty presented their sides, questioned each other, and then answered questions from the crowd. You can watch the entire debate here. I’m pro-life, and I’d like to say the pro-life side dominated the debate, but that […]
Washington, D.C.—In a video released today by Secular Pro-Life, the mother of conjoined twins challenges the idea that “you don’t have the right to life unless you can live independently of someone else’s body.” Tatiana and Krista Hogan, age five, are conjoined at the head. Because they share brain tissue, and because Krista is partially […]
[Guest Blogger Simon takes a particular interest in the philosophical aspects of the abortion debate. Here he considers the important role of bodily integrity.] When studying the philosophy of abortion, it is often very hard to find new perspectives. Many arguments run along the usual lines of bodily autonomy, personhood, the moral value of autonomy and […]
Secular Pro-Life is working on a short video that will tackle the grand-daddy of all pro-abortion arguments: bodily autonomy. Of course, there has been no shortage of discourse on this topic– most of it dry and unmemorable. But nobody is going to say that about this video. Why not? Because our short video is going to […]
It’s crucial that we demonstrate that anyone can–and everyone should–oppose abortion. Thanks to you, we are working to change minds, transform our culture, and protect our prenatal children. Every donation supports our ability to provide nonsectarian, nonpartisan arguments against abortion. Read more details here. Please donate today.