Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Non-Paradox Of The Unborn

Ross Douthat, in a post about how some people have abortions and other people try really hard to have babies: "This is the paradox of America’s unborn. No life is so desperately sought after, so hungrily desired, so carefully nurtured. And yet no life is so legally unprotected, and so frequently destroyed."

I deal with paradoxes in my day job. I just checked in with them, and they're not at all happy that this lame observation is being counted among their number. Russell's Paradox is beside itself. Don't tell the Liar Paradox, or there could be an explosion.

Some women really want to have kids now. For them, getting pregnant is awesome, and I'm happy for them if it happens. Other women really don't want to have kids (or more kids) now. For them, getting pregnant would be a bad situation, and I don't want them to have (more) kids. Those who have basic familiarity with the ways of humans will understand how these desires are rational results from different people's life situations and personal aspirations. Once you zoom out a little from the fetus itself and consider the interests of the woman carrying it, things quickly become non-paradoxical.

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