If you held up an apple in your hand, and I looked at it and said "That's an orange!", would I be right? What would you think if I said that the object you held in your hand is whatever I believe it to be? If I believe it's an apple, it's an apple. If I believe it's an orange, it's an orange. Would you agree with me, or would you think I'm a few bricks shy of a full load?
How you answer these questions depends on whether you think truth is relative, or absolute. If truth is relative, the apple is whatever a person thinks it is. If truth is absolute, the apple is an apple, regardless of what anyone thinks it is.
While the apple analogy is extremely simple, the principle can be applied to complex moral issues. Let's take the abortion issue, for example. People usually take one of the following positions in regards to abortion:
- Abortion is always bad.
- Abortion is always good.
- Abortion is good for some people, and bad for other people.
- Abortion is good in certain circumstances, and bad in others.
A person that takes position #1 believes that abortion kills an innocent unborn human being, and that killing an innocent human being is always wrong. A person that takes this position identifies themselves as pro-life, and denies any association with the pro-choice movement. A person that holds this position believes that abortion is wrong at any stage of the pregnancy.
A person that takes position #2 believes that abortion is always good, because it provides a way for a woman to avoid having a baby when she doesn't want one. A person that takes this position identifies strongly with the pro-choice movement, and believes that it is acceptable to perform abortions at any stage of the pregnancy, right up to the point of birth. Like position number one, position number two is an absolute position regarding abortion.
A person that takes position #3 believes that the morality of abortion is up to each individual. People who take this position are the ones who say "I personally wouldn't have an abortion, but I'm not going to prevent someone else from having one, if they feel it's right for them."
A person that takes position #4 believes that the morality of abortion depends on the situation. People who take this position believe that abortion is wrong except in certain situations, such as pregnancies due to rape or incest, or pregnancies that endanger the mother's life.
Which of these positions is correct? Positions 3 and 4 can be taken out of the running right away. Why? Because they are both relative positions, and truth is absolute. An apple is an apple, regardless of what people think it is, or the circumstance. The same applies to abortion. To say that abortion is right for some people and wrong for other people is as ridiculous as saying that an apple is an apple to some people, and an orange to others. To say that abortion is wrong in all situations except for certain ones is as ridiculous as saying an apple is an apple except when you play catch with it.
Since positions 3 and 4 have been eliminated, all that's left is positions 1 and 2. Which of these is the correct position? The answer depends on when a human being comes into existence. The only logical point at which a human being comes into existence is at the moment of fertilization. To think that a human being comes into existence at some arbitrary point between fertilization and birth is unreasonable, and not in accordance with human embryology (http://catholiceducation.org/articles/abortion/ab0027.html). Therefore, position 1 is the only position that can be correct. Abortion is always wrong, because it ends an innocent human being's life, regardless of how the human being came into existence. Abortion is always wrong, whether a person thinks it's wrong or not. Abortion is always wrong, regardless of the situation.
I see what you're trying to get at, but you really can't explain such a complex issue such as abortion with such a simple comparison of apples to oranges. I think both positions 3 and 4 are very valid and should be considered.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking a philosophy class right now and do see your point, but it's far too simplified if you ask me... for example, truth may be absolute, but what is more important are "universal codes," or things that absolutely everyone must follow, regardless of religion or social background. Yes, one universal may be that killing an innocent person is wrong, but the whole issue (like you stated) is when a fetus becomes a human. If that fetus IS considered a child (and at what stage, again depending on what we believe), then they should be protected. However, many argue that a fetus is only a potential life until a certain point in the pregnancy, which is when the life of the mother trumps the *potential* life of the fetus.
I understand that many people believe life starts at conception (my boyfriend and I have debated both sides for a while), but a zygote is just two cells (sperm & egg) that have begun cellular reproduction. Does that mean it is a human? I personally believe that at the beginning of the second trimester is when the fetus becomes a human. The Church had believed that a fetus became a human over time in the womb and was "ensouled" over time, (check out St. Aquinas on the topic of abortion) and so abortion was bad after that time.
Anonymous - Thank you for responding. Your response has generated several questions in my mind. They are:
ReplyDelete1. Who decides what these "universal codes" that you refer to are?
2. Do you personally believe that fetus is only a potential life until a certain point in pregnancy? If so, how do you determine the point at which a human being comes into existence? What embryological basis do you have for that belief?
3. How did you come to the conclusion that a zygote is just two cells (sperm & egg) that have begun cellular reproduction? What embryological or scientific basis do you have for that statement?
4. How did you come to the conclusion that a human being comes into existence at the end of the second trimester? Again, what embryological or scientific basis do you have for that statement?
5. Are you Catholic?
For more information as to when a human being comes into existence, please read: http://catholiceducation.org/articles/abortion/ab0027.html
In regards to what St. Aquinas said, the Catholic Church has always believed that once a human being comes into existence, it is wrong to kill it. The Catholic Church's understanding of when a human being comes into existence has changed over time due to advances in science. That doesn't mean, however, that the Catholic Church has ever condoned abortion. It has not.
Moral relativism is self refuting and cannot stand on its own. Excellent post, Paul.
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