Trying to Honestly Thinking Through the Abortion Issue
Below is, what would seem to the author, a rational discussion surrounding abortion. It is not meant to offend or horrify, but to suspend any predisposition and follow ideas to their logical conclusions.
It Seems the Central Question underpinning the whole abortion argument is this:
WHEN DOES AN ORGANIZM BECOME A HUMAN LIFE?
For, we as a society tend to deem all Human Life to be valuable, and it is immoral to kill a Human being (excepting certain circumstances like war, self-defense, etc.)
However, if we deem all Human Life to be valuable, then should it not be unacceptable to terminate a life even if it is inside a woman's body?
Well, is a fetus in the mother womb truly even a human life?
Is a Fetus a Human Life?
That raises a good question, “What characteristics does an organism need to have in order for society to deem it Human life?”
We should all be able to agree that there is not even a possibility of life before a sperm fertilizes an egg. So this is our starting point where a human life is even possible..
What Does It Take to Be Considered Human?
At What Point
In Time Does a Fetus Develop Into a Human?
So the real question is, “Where on the timeline of human development does an organism meet society’s definition of life?”
Some will argue among the various Trimesters as to when life begins: Do you need to have a developed heart? A developed Brain? Be capable of survival if born early?
Society's current standard for life is that an organism does not become a Human life until it fully exits the woman’s body (i.e.: is Born).
Why Does a Fetus Become Valuable Once It is Separated from the Mother?
This still begs the questions as to what make turns a fetus into human life just by passing outside the woman’s body? Why is a fetus not life inside the body not life, but outside it is? Developmentally, there is nothing truly different between a Fetus inside the body and baby outside other than is has cut it’s tie to Mom.
Adoption Aside, Once Separated Isn't a Child Still Intensely Dependent on the Mother?
Ok, so in order for a life to be considered human, all ties and dependencies with the mother need to be cut?
However, the fact of the matter is, though, once the umbilical cord is cut, the tie between Mom and Baby still remains (excepting adoption). That Mother is stuck with the child; feeding them, clothing them, protecting them all the way until an age where that child can survive on its own (commonly accepted as age 18).
Should Adoption Be Used Instead of Abortion?
Therefore, isn’t it more reasonable to define life as Human until the organism fully develops until the age of 18 (or an age where they can survive independently)? If you can’t survive independent of a Mother or some other support system are you truly human? And wouldn’t it be more rationale to allow abortions up until this age?
If Abortion Is an Accepted Choice, Shouldn't Its Use be Permitted Until a Child Is Able to Completely Eliminate All Dependence on the Mother?
“That’s absolutely monstrous. How could you ever think about murdering someone who is up to 17 years old????”
Yes, emotionally speaking that is horrifying, but I still don’t understand why an organism has value once it passes through the woman’s vagina when, only a few seconds before, it was just a fetus eligible to be aborted? How can an organism’s value switch so drastically on the developmental timeline?
It seems many are horrified by aborting a 17 year old because they can speak, they can reason, they have emotions, they have thought and dreams, etc.
In the U.S., the Legal Age of Separation is 18. Should Abortion be Permitted Up Until this Age?
Maybe, then, someone truly becomes Human when they develop the ability to reason? After all, isn’t that the biggest thing that separates us from all the other animals? Therefore, abortions should be permitted to the age of six or seven when children really start to learn how to use their reasoning faculties?
Man's Ability to Reason Separates Us From All Other Animals. Perhaps Abortions Should Be Permitted Until the Age of Reason?
“That’s still monstrous. How could you ever think about murdering a child????”
Maybe, then, someone truly becomes Human when they develop the ability to reason? After all, isn’t that the biggest thing that separates us from all the other animals? Therefore, abortions should be permitted to the age of six or seven when children really start to learn how to use their reasoning faculties?
Still monstrous?