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- From: dking@raul.nas.nasa.gov (Dan King)
- Subject: Re: Jim, the chastity belt theory, and me, Part 1
- References: <32728@rnd.GBA.NYU.EDU> <1992Nov17.060115.15568@panix.com> <32777@rnd.GBA.NYU.EDU> <1992Nov17.215527.23123@panix.com>
- Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov (News Administrator)
- Organization: NAS Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
- Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 20:26:42 GMT
- Message-ID: <1992Nov18.202642.17153@nas.nasa.gov>
- Lines: 51
-
-
- In article <1992Nov17.215527.23123@panix.com> jk@panix.com (Jim Kalb) writes:
-
- >People should be responsible for their sexual activity, as they are
- >for their other activity. That responsibility includes the
- >responsibility to foster and support rather than destroy the life that
- >results from sexual activity. It is true that prohibition of abortion
- >puts a special burden on women; however, since that burden results
- >from the application of the same principle (responsibility for one's
- >actions) to persons in different circumstances (persons who can and
- >persons who can not become pregnant) I see no reason to view the
- >special burden as unjust. Nor have you suggested a reason.
-
- >You seem to object to the view that one's obligations depend in part
- >on one's circumstances. I don't understand the objection.
-
- Let me see if I can summarize your position accurately:
-
- - The act of coitus sex has the possibility of resulting in the
- creation of a new life (fetus/un-born baby/whatever).
- - Regardless of how rare the result of the new life may be or
- the precautions taken, the creation of new life remains
- a possibility from the act of coitus sex.
- - Because the principles that participated in coitus sex were
- aware of this possibility, they now have an obligation to
- this life.
- - Abortion is a way of escaping this obligation and should not
- be allowed.
-
- Would you agree that I have the jist of your argument? If
- not could you correct me were I am wrong?
-
- Assuming I have gotten your position correct, I have a
- question; Would you allow abortion in cases were the
- woman's life is in danger?
-
- If I have your position correct, then I would assume you
- would not allow such abortions. The couple that participated
- in coitus sex would not only be aware that the creation of
- the fetus could result, but would also be aware that the
- possibility of the woman losing her life could result.
- Therefore, the woman should not be able to escape her
- obligation to the fetus just because this possibility
- (that she knew ahead of time was possible) does occur.
- It would seem your position should hold that the woman
- should forfeit her life for the fetus's in order to
- fulfill her obligation.
-
- >Jim Kalb (jk@panix.com)
-
- Dan King
-