[MD] Morality, Abortion and the MoQ

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Michael]
I don't expect there to be a clear cut MoQ moral answer..

[Arlo]
Here's my answer. Keeping in mind that the reasons many women choose 
abortion are complicated and varied... And keep in mind that these 
examples are purposefully simplistic.

The MOQ values the life of the unborn child over MOST biological, 
social and intellectual patterns. Having an abortion to escape social 
stigma, for example, would be an example of something the MOQ would 
say is immoral. However, having an abortion to save the life of the 
mother I would think the MOQ would say is moral. Incest becomes 
tricky, as society has loudly made the claim that incest threatens 
social stability. In this case it may be that aborting children of 
incest is society's way of disavowing the act, that denying abortion 
in these cases is tantamount to condoning the act. The same could be 
said of instances of rape. In both cases of incest and rape, it may 
increase the acts of these types of violence if the perpetrater felt 
he could "force" the birthing of a child on the woman. Here I think 
the MOQ allows society the benefit of allowing behaviors that may 
decrease acts of violence that would lead to greater social 
disruption. By giving the woman freedom to choose, it may lessen acts 
of violence perpetrated against her.

So I think "abortion", like "capital punishment", is an area that in 
and of itself is not moral or immoral, but the reasons behind it may 
lead to it being so. For example, Pirsig has stated that capital 
punishment is immoral except in cases where it can be demonstrated 
that incarceration of the prisoner itself still threatens society, 
and Pirsig alludes to cases of treason or insurrection. "But if an 
established social structure is not seriously threatened by a 
criminal, then an evolutionary morality would argue that there is no 
moral justification for killing him." (LILA)

Here we see that it is not "killing a prisoner" per se that falls 
under the moral knife, but the reasons we do such things. In one 
case, killing a prisoner may be wholly immoral, in another it may be 
the most moral thing we can do. (The same is true of eating animal 
flesh, according to Pirsig. In times of plenty, eating animals is 
immoral. In times of starvation, eating animals is very moral.)

Going back the idea of abortion to preserve the social life of the 
mother, one could argue that a society that condones this devalues 
human life to the point where the very fabric of society is 
threatened. However, denying abortion in all cases may do the same 
thing. What, I suppose, should be asked (but can't be unless you are 
privy to the intimate details and particularities involved) is "why" 
a particular abortion occurs, and whether or not those reasons 
violate the MOQ hierarchy or preserve it.

Again, keeping in mind the ridiculously simplistic reduction of these 
examples, I'd say (1) a woman in her thirties having consensual sex 
and decides to abort so that she doesn't have to deal with a kid, may 
be very morally distinct from (2) a teenage girl who is raped by her 
uncle or (2a) a woman whose doctor determines will die as a result of 
childbirth. Obviously (to restate), no real life situation is as 
simplistic as these, but in a very broad stroke you get the idea.

What would be abhorrent would be to set up a "tribunal" to make such 
a decision. Ultimately, the decision must remain the woman's.

There are also related social issues that must be addressed. 
Consider, a woman living in poverty. If we deny her the abortion 
(valuing the life of the child), what do we then do to value that 
child's life once its been born? Consider a woman who chooses an 
abortion lest she risk losing her job. If we suggest its immoral to 
do so, then isn't it equally immoral for that woman to lose her job 
because she gave birth to this child? Do we not show our value for 
human life by defending that woman's ability to keep her employment? 
Isn't it hypocritical to say "human life is sacred, but if you get 
fired for having a child that's just free-market economics"? If we 
want to minimize abortions that occur for reasons other than incest, 
rape or imminent threat to the mother's life, we have to also address 
the reasons woman may make this choice. And another one of these is 
social stigma. How absurd is it that we demonize young women who have 
abortions, but stigmatize those who keep the child?

Anyways, these are just some thoughts.