Introduction
The issue of abortion, one of the central problems of modern bioethics, has always existed, at all times, in various cultures. Studying this topic enables everyone to grasp the essence of morality and conduct, thereby taking one step closer to unraveling the mystery of the human being. Within the discussion of the permissibility of abortion, several issues can be identified, the first of which concerns the moral side of the decision. This topic aligns with Kant’s philosophy, which assumes the absolutism of moral law.
Epistemology is not merely the dominant element of Kant’s philosophy; it is the foundation of his worldview. However, on the question of the birth of the soul at the center of the abortion debate, there is no scientific data appropriate for epistemic support. The profound disagreement between proponents and opponents of the freedom of abortion and the lack of epistemic evidence for overcoming it is of a twofold referential nature. A more nuanced thought, entirely different in the context of modern medicine, is captured by Aristotle, whose arguments can be supported by facts about embryonic development.
Equally noteworthy is the axiological question of whether the government has any influence on the decision to terminate a pregnancy. The answer to this question can be found in axiology, particularly in Locke’s philosophy, which is based on the principles of nurture and values. Children are parents’ primary significance, and the right to kill cannot be justified. Locke was an active human rights activist, and why women’s rights should be infringed on remains an unexplained question.
At the same time, Plato emphasized the principle of justice in relation to human rights. Thus, by prohibiting abortion and considering it morally unacceptable, the authorities discriminate against society. The issue of abortion will remain an open problem until morally worthy solutions can be found, and philosophy can be a point of reference for finding answers.
Background
Historical Outlook
The problem of abortion is one of the most ancient, lying at the intersection of medicine, philosophy, theology, and jurisprudence. There have been as many discussions and debates about the permissibility of this medical intervention as there have been controversies about its validity. Before considering the research questions, it is necessary to examine the issue’s history.
It should be noted that in Ancient Rome, the procedure was widely practiced and was not condemned (Simkulet, 2022). The embryo was considered part of the mother’s body, and there was no punishment for fetal killing. However, with the emergence of Christianity, there was an inevitable reassessment of values. In the Middle Ages, the church’s claim that an embryo acquired an immortal soul at a certain point in its pregnancy resulted in severe punishment for abortion, including the death penalty (Simkulet, 2022). The question of the permissibility of artificial termination of pregnancy became the most controversial and debatable with the development of scientific knowledge.
Modern Practices
Despite the strict tenets of religion, induced abortion is now a common medical intervention. Complications and consequences of this operation can lead to death or severe disability in a woman. However, if a pregnant woman has severe somatic diseases that complicate a normal pregnancy, abortion becomes the only possible way out (Baker, 2019). Opinions of politicians, citizens, and philosophers on abortion have differed throughout history, and there is no consensus found. However, this does not mean that the question of abortion will always remain unanswered; its essence must be explored in detail, beginning with its moral aspect.
Moral Objections to the Subject of Abortion
Aristotle’s Views
Aristotle’s ethics is more than a system of moral principles governing human behavior. Abortion raises objections as there is no universal solution to moral dilemmas, nor are there any absolute principles. For Aristotle, the concept of morality is, first and foremost, a virtuous person, which is formed and realized in ethical actions (Mitchell, 2018). The latter exists only in connection with the particular individual and the occurrences in which one acts. Aristotle considered abortion permissible as a fertility regulation, while the embryo had not developed motor activity and sensitivity (Simkulet, 2022). Thus, the decision to have an abortion cannot be unequivocally morally wrong or right, as the circumstances determine the motion.
Kant’s Views
Aristotle’s view is opposed by Kant’s epistemological teachings, which contain opposing statements. Kant regarded the idea of freedom as the central tenet of practical reason, and thus its central limit, the absolute, acting as the condition of the rest. By definition, an absolute can only be in the singular, and such is the moral law as an expression of the idea of freedom (Baker, 2019). It is the starting point from which all thinking begins and the boundary of reason. According to Kant, something can only be considered good if it is universal; it is impossible to be happy and moral simultaneously (Simkulet, 2022). Abortion is one of the most challenging moral dilemmas for the virtuous Aristotelian individual, raising the question of why it is necessary to justify it.
Comparison
Kant and Aristotle interpreted the nature of morality and action differently. Aristotle’s epistemology is based on knowledge of individual things, from which he derives the basis of universal laws (Baker, 2019). Every pregnancy is unique, just as deciding to keep a child is. It is not always the case that pregnancy comes under a conscious choice, condemning the groom to an agonizing choice. Even Kant’s philosophy does not provide an unambiguous answer to whether the maxim of abortion can be universalized. Therefore, circumstances should influence the category of morality.
Government Intervention in Abortion Decisions
Plato’s Views
Values are no less meaningful in today’s world and have a significant impact on the government’s ability to influence individual choices. For Plato, the highest values are ideas that are a form comprehended by reason but not by sense data (Baker, 2019). Thus, justice should be desired for the sake of fairness itself, not for its social function, which ensures the reliability, stability, and predictability of social relations.
From this argument, it may be assumed that governmental action cannot affect the embodiment of abortion policy. According to Plato, abortion is a right that can be exercised if the parents consciously choose it (Baker, 2019). Parents, not the government, should find a solution based on individual values and principles.
Locke’s Views
At the same time, John Locke takes a distinct position within axiology, emphasizing the role of parental commitment. It should be noted that, while denying the innateness of ideas, Locke recognized the influence of innate abilities on human beings, which create differences between people (Baker, 2019). It cannot be stated that Plato’s and Locke’s views on government intervention are fundamentally different. Abortion is a matter that John Locke considered immoral enough to make illegal (Mitchell, 2018).
Nevertheless, another matter deserves attention, namely, the duty of parents to care for their children. Parents have no right to murder, and it is this aspect that the state can regulate; depriving an embryo of rights cannot mean justice. However, empowering the embryo could mean taking fundamental rights away from the parents.
Plato believed that justice prioritizes the state’s interests over private interests (Simkulet, 2022). Nevertheless, just as influential is the fact that each element must fulfill its tasks without interfering in others’ affairs. Parents, as conscious individuals, should be able to make a deliberate choice, and the interference of one entity in the position of the other would only destroy righteousness rather than promote it.
Conclusion
Abortion is an essential topic of discussion that cuts across numerous fields. Each branch of philosophy addresses a different aspect of the decision dilemma: epistemology, which influences choices, and axiology, which concerns values. Numerous philosophical questions can be addressed in parallel within the same theme.
I hope readers comprehend that morality can be interpreted differently and that there are no unambiguous absolutes. People need to understand that everyone has the right to choose, and they should not promote their position actively but be willing to engage in dialogue. The problem of modern morality has undergone significant changes compared with traditional morality. The essence of these changes is encapsulated in a concise thesis: the relationship between morality and civilization is shifting.
If earlier civilization was criticized by morality, now, on the contrary, civilization acts as a critic. It raises the question of whether there is anything sustainable about morality, and which moral concepts people can adopt to confirm the truth of moral judgments. Undoubtedly, philosophy has helped address the question critically, as science has enabled the analysis of the problem in terms of both human cognition and the essence of action, as well as unique values.
The foundation of culture and social life is based on philosophical principles. Understanding the relationship between subjects and objects teaches you to think critically and develop these skills for life. Everyone understands that human nature is contradictory, but the most valuable knowledge is how to explain and understand it in terms of right and wrong for oneself.
References
Baker, R. (2019). The structure of moral revolutions: Studies of changes in the morality of abortion, death, and the bioethics revolution. Mit Press.
Mitchell, H. B. (2018). Roots of wisdom: A tapestry of philosophical traditions. Cengage Learning.
Simkulet, W. (2022). Abortion, rights, and cabin cases. The New Bioethics, 28(4), 315-326.