Politics

Of Life and Abortion

by Benjamin Frasca
11/22/20
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What is life? The answer seems obvious doesn’t it?We all know that a dog is alive but a rock isn’t. We just know. But beyond that, have you ever tried to define life? Philosophers and scientist have struggled to do so since the beginning. After thousands of years of pondering there is still no agreement.

Many give a list of observations and call it a definition. For example they might say that life is defined as that which is able to reproduce and has metabolism. But these are just characteristics. Characteristics do not get to the heart of what life is; therefore, life remains undefined.

Is a baby in its mother’s arms alive? Oh course. But what about before birth? When does a fetus become life? Opinions vary. Some rely on certain characteristics such as the length of pregnancy.Others consider a different set of characteristics such as development of a heartbeat. Still others depend on intuition. Who is right? In truth we don’t know when a fetus becomes a living thing. How can we if we cannot define life? And If we do not know when a fetus becomes life we cannot know for sure when aborting is taking a life.

Since we do not know when abortion is taking a life the decision to abort becomes a consideration of priorities. Does the reason for the procedure justify killing? When is it justified? Sometimes abortions are committed to save the life of the mother or because of rape. Sometimes it is committed just because a baby would be an inconvenience. Where do we draw the line? Or should we? The real question is not whether abortion is taking a life. We can’t know for sure. The real question is when is taking a life justified.

Societies often condone killing under certain circumstances. War and capital punishment for heinous crimes come to mind. But just societies only kill in response to the action of the one killed, except possibly in euthanasia. For example, a murderer is executed for his crime or a soldier is killed because he has attacked or is planning to attack. Just societies do not kill because of who a person is or what they believe.

A fetus that is alive has not committed an act against society. Abortion is performed because of what the fetus is; an unwanted life. A fetus cannot do anything different to save itself. And when a society kills a fetus because of no act of its own, is that society unjust?

My agreement is that we do not know enough about life to justify abortion. We do not know what life is with certainty; therefore, we do not know at what point abortion is killing. Also a just society only kills because of the act of the one killed and only under extreme circumstances. Ending a life should not be done because of who someone is or what they believe. A fetus has committed no act to warrant death. And since there is so much uncertainty surrounding these matters, let us error on the side of caution. Abortions should be avoided until these corresponding moral issues are resolved.