Originally posted by BERNIE MOSFET
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In principal, I don't disagree with your notion about abstinence. It's a valid point. The problem I have is that we're programmed to #1: survive long enough to procreate, #2: procreate, #3: rinse, repeat. It's not that I don't agree with being responsible, but that I recognize that humans do what animals do, too. That's the reality of it.
Bolded part might as well have been said by an abortion advocate.
Adults have the right to do as they please, insomuch as they don't violate others' rights in the process. I agree that the imposition of consequences upon others for actions beyond their control (in this case: have sex, birth child, dump child on society to raise) is unfair, but consider that when society imposes restrictions on human behavior, they also impose all consequences of those restrictons on society as well. If we deem that convicted violent criminals and thieves maintain a right to life then, by imposing their removal from society for a time, we must also support them in their limited capacity to sustain themselves. We don't choose to have criminals; they are an unfortunate, inherent product of our condition.
Likewise, many people do not choose to have children, yet they are an inherent, albeit avoidable-through-abstinence product of our condition as well. If we as a society impose that human life is to be sanctified (banning abortions), then we must also accept that preservation of life is not enough, and that sustaining that life must also be sanctified. By imposing a child's inclusion in life - by imposing the consequences of someone's irresponsibility - we are accepting responsibility for what that child becomes, whether we like it or not.
Fundamentally, however, these particular arguments about the validity of abortions only go to support our modern notions about economy; at the root it is competition for resources. Our sense of natural rights really sort of boils down to a species-centric armistice wherein we collaborate for resources; ultimately, with our empathy, chances of survival increase (see #1 on human to-do list above).
The crux of this whole issue really stems from how we evaluate life, which we're not all in agreement on. After all, it is somewhat counterintuitive that, with regard to #2 on our list, we should willfully destroy our progeny.
The rest is just arguing solutions to economic problems.
Bolded part might as well have been said by an abortion advocate.
Adults have the right to do as they please, insomuch as they don't violate others' rights in the process. I agree that the imposition of consequences upon others for actions beyond their control (in this case: have sex, birth child, dump child on society to raise) is unfair, but consider that when society imposes restrictions on human behavior, they also impose all consequences of those restrictons on society as well. If we deem that convicted violent criminals and thieves maintain a right to life then, by imposing their removal from society for a time, we must also support them in their limited capacity to sustain themselves. We don't choose to have criminals; they are an unfortunate, inherent product of our condition.
Likewise, many people do not choose to have children, yet they are an inherent, albeit avoidable-through-abstinence product of our condition as well. If we as a society impose that human life is to be sanctified (banning abortions), then we must also accept that preservation of life is not enough, and that sustaining that life must also be sanctified. By imposing a child's inclusion in life - by imposing the consequences of someone's irresponsibility - we are accepting responsibility for what that child becomes, whether we like it or not.
Fundamentally, however, these particular arguments about the validity of abortions only go to support our modern notions about economy; at the root it is competition for resources. Our sense of natural rights really sort of boils down to a species-centric armistice wherein we collaborate for resources; ultimately, with our empathy, chances of survival increase (see #1 on human to-do list above).
The crux of this whole issue really stems from how we evaluate life, which we're not all in agreement on. After all, it is somewhat counterintuitive that, with regard to #2 on our list, we should willfully destroy our progeny.
The rest is just arguing solutions to economic problems.
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