[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.
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