Within modern society, abortion is undoubtedly the most thought and talked about subject. It is basically a life-or-death matter, having about the same amount of defenders on both sides. When it comes to this ongoing debate, it’s become somewhat difficult to come to a conclusion about the right or wrong way of thinking. In this essay, I will closely analyze this situation by utilizing Immanuel Kant’s rationalism and the theory of stoicism. During the whole battle of who’s right and who’s wrong, it’s obvious that the only rational choice would be pro-choice because giving every woman the right to choose whether or not to remain pregnant enables us to take the necessary steps toward a society where human rights are superior.
Abortions have been performed with medicinal herbs, sharp instruments, roughness, or other traditional approaches since historical times. Abortion was not considered an unlawful act throughout most of contemporary history so long as it had been performed months prior to the fetus' first detectable movement. “In the mid-1800s, early pro-life advocate Dr. Horatio Robinson Storer (1830-1922) convinced the American Medical Association to join him in campaigning for the outlawing of abortion nationwide. By the early 1900s, most states had banned abortion. By 1965, all 50 states had outlawed abortion, with some exceptions varying by state. The incentive behind the early laws was intended to protect women from unsafe procedures rather than aimed at preserving the lives of the unborn.” (ProCon.org, 2019). There have been five states in recent news: Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Louisiana, which have passed bills banning abortion after approximately six weeks before several women even notice they are pregnant.
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Rationalism focuses on using logic to solve most of life's significant questions. Some types of philosophy include religious thinking, desires, or experiences, however, philosophy is approached in a different manner by rationalism. In the simplest way possible, rationalism finds reason as the primary source of comprehension and testing. 'Fact' is not subjective nor cognitive in the case of rationalism, which is why rationalists assume that understanding can be obtained through logic alone. They did not believe that this way human beings could comprehend anything this way, but it's conceivable in a sense. This makes rationalism a priori, meaning that “we gain knowledge without experience through the use of reason.” Rationalism refers specifically to logic and mathematics, implying that facts or reality are founded on a measured and logical method.
Kant clearly defines 'human' as an ethical agent in the Metaphysics of Morals; as a being with some cognitive abilities, “a subject whose actions can be imputed to him. Moral personality is therefore nothing other than the freedom of a rational being under moral laws.” (Kant, 1991, p. 16). In other terms, any attempt to tie a Kantian person's origin to a physiological incidence (such as conception) would be contradictory to Kant's argument that identity was solely noumenal or transcendental. So if we consider a pregnant woman to meet the Kantian definition of personhood, which on Kant’s account humanity only refers to those who possess certain attributes and a pregnant woman does, it becomes difficult to insist that a woman and her body can be utilized to serve an embryo in the uterus. Although, of course, the fetus is a potential Kantian individual, a potential person's desires cannot overpower an actual person's free and independent choices, particularly if those choices include a path to self-improvement. It is quite logical, considering the link between single motherhood and deprivation, that this is a lifestyle of which women would choose not to be part, particularly as it poses itself as an obstacle to development and self-improvement. A thorough application of Kant’s philosophy, then, not only supports the pro-choice argument but renders it a much more humane and compassionate position to hold –one that does not sacrifice the respect for the fetus in favor of women’s rights.
Stoicism is the Greek metaphysical philosophy developed by Citium's Zeno, which emphasizes the cultivation of self-control and courage as a way to conquer negative emotions. Everything things in the cosmos, for the stoic, obey Natural Law. This ensures that all that occurs actually persists and that anything that happens is for the better. Stoicism is not only a set of convictions or ethical claims but a style of life that involves consistent practice and preparation. The Stoics believed that becoming a straightforward, impartial, and self-disciplined thinker helps one to grasp the 'logos' (the natural universal reason in all things). A crucial aspect of Stoicism includes enhancing the ethical and moral well-being of the person by making a will in harmony with Nature, and by following the four cardinal virtues: intelligence, bravery, righteousness, and temperance. In Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, Zeno says “The end may be defined as life in accordance with nature or, in other words, in accordance with our own human nature as well as that of the universe.” (Diogenes, Laertius, & Mensch, 2018). That is to say, 'living in accordance with nature' requires adhering your thoughts and behavior to the set of circumstances that will unfold owing to fate.
The Stoics believed in morality, and the greatest among them in fact, was fairness. They also believed in what they call ‘preferred indifferences’, for example, health, wealth, pleasure, education, etc. Our natural well-being, prosperity, education, enjoyment, and credibility preferences are where we generate our rights. If people are allowed to seek desired indifferences, then they should have a culture that allows them to achieve them. Where does this play into the right of a woman to an abortion? A woman has the right to autonomy or self-government. She will decide what's right for herself and her health, even if that means terminating a pregnancy. Discussing the pain and pleasure the child will feel is almost meaningless because the Stoics would just conclude, 'They don't use sensations properly.'
Keeping in mind everything else, it can be inferred that people commonly used several arguments in support of one or the other position in addressing the moral aspects of abortion. Thus, a detailed evaluation of Kant's philosophy not only exists to support the pro-choice argument but also makes it a far more humanistic and compassionate position to hold – one that will not stand to sacrifice the fetus' respect for the rights of women. It is difficult to insist that a woman and her body can be utilized to serve an embryo in the uterus, considering they do not meet the Kantian definition of personhood. Stoicism believes that a woman has the right to autonomy, even if it means terminating a pregnancy because only she can make the best decision for herself. Although not everyone will agree with the stance of a right to an abortion, it will ultimately protect women’s rights which are just as important probably even more than a fetus’.
In conclusion, giving every woman the right to choose whether or not to remain pregnant enables us to take the necessary steps toward a society where human rights are superior. Whatever our personal view, we should respect a woman's moral capacity to make decisions regarding her health and welfare, including reproductive decisions. Happiness, not suffering, is to be expected in life. Ultimately it should be her choice until the baby is out and alive and well, considering it is her body.
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