Abortion

[Oneofthediaspora]

I have a question: what bearing does the number of abortions have on the ethics of legal abortion?

Why - and this is a philosophical question, I suppose - is it worse for two foetuses to be aborted than one?

Because, unless they are twins obviously, it means that there will be two women who have the possibility (and I realise it is only the possibility) to suffer the pain of regret. Regret is a bad pain to feel. I honestly hope you never get know it personally. I unfortunately have felt it and it is unpleasant for many reasons, but chiefly because there is very little you can change to "put it right". One tends to have to carry it and there can be frequent reminders.

The less people who have it the better.

 

[cantata]

Because, unless they are twins obviously, it means that there will be two women who have the possibility (and I realise it is ponly the possibility) to suffer the pain of regret. Regret is a bad pain to feel. I honestly hope you never get know it personally. I unfortunately have felt it and it is unpleasant for many reasons, but chiefly because there is very little you can change to "put it right". One tends to have to carry it and there can be frequent reminders.

The less people who have it the better.

I'm not sure why numbers matters, though? I'm not sure you can add up suffering across persons.

If you could (and just bear with me on assuming pain can be quantified for a moment here), then 100 people suffering 1 unit of pain would be worse than one person suffering 99 units of pain. And I don't feel comfortable with that idea at all. I'd rather 100 people have a headache than one person be tortured.

(Also, fewer people, not less. )

 

[Oneofthediaspora]

If you could (and just bear with me on assuming pain can be quantified for a moment here), then 100 people suffering 1 unit of pain would be worse than one person suffering 99 units of pain. And I don't feel comfortable with that idea at all. I'd rather 100 people have a headache than one person be tortured.

Me too. But I'd rather no-one suffered unnecessarily.
I don't know if that will translate well to the subject we're discussing though.

In fear of invoking Godwin's Law

If the European holocaust could have been stopped sooner, it would have been a good thing; not indeed for those who suffered and died, but rather for those who *did not* go on to suffer and die.
All a bit tricky and hypothetical that though.

 

[WatersMoon110]

The philosophy of abstinence education is fine, but its practicality and effectiveness is not.

The evidence shows it isnt. The more sexual activity is encourage the more the problem, the more the availability of contraception the more the problem.

Don't suppose you have any evidence of this?

I have evidence to the contrary: The teen pregnancy rate rose from 2005-2006, while abstinence only sex education was being taught in most schools, and encouraged by the current presidential administration. The teen pregnancy rate rose by 3%, ending the 34% decline from 1991 (when comprehensive sex education was being taught in most schools, and encouraged by that presidential administration) to 2005.

 

[Skaloop]

The evidence shows it isnt. The more sexual activity is encourage the more the problem, the more the availability of contraception the more the problem.

It depends what you mean by educate. If education is causing record STD’s and abortions is it education?

Can you provide backup for this claim? Because from what I have seen, and from the link provided below, STD, pregnancy, and abortion rates have been decreasing over the last couple of decades.

Also, countries with more thorough sex-ed programs show lower rates of teen sex than the US, which has less intensive sex-ed and more abstinence education.

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_teens.html

I specifically point out these findings:

• Countries with low levels of adolescent pregnancy, childbearing and STDs are characterized by societal acceptance of adolescent sexual relationships, combined with comprehensive and balanced information about sexuality and clear expectations about commitment and prevention of pregnancy and STDs within these relationships.
• Easy access to contraceptives and other reproductive health services contributes to better contraceptive use and, in turn, low teenage pregnancy rates.

I don’t have to have personal conviction to keep to the speed limit if I don’t agree with it, the fine however will keep me to it.

Not if nobody tells you about the fine, nor teaches you how to drive below the speed limit, but rather just says "Don't speed!"



Think of it this way. 9 out of 10 kids are going to drive. Driving has risks. Are you going to tell them not to drive until they have their own car, or are you going to teach them to drive safely? The ones that aren't going to drive until they have their own car aren't going to drive anyway. But for the ones who do drive, they should be taught how to do so safely. Even for the ones that wait for their own car, once they get it, they still need to know how to drive safely.


Practically everyone will have sex, either before or within marriage. They all need to know how to do it safely and responsibly, whenever that time comes.

 

[Skaloop]

Can you provide backup for this claim? Because from what I have seen, and from the link provided below, STD, pregnancy, and abortion rates have been decreasing over the last couple of decades.

Also, countries with more thorough sex-ed programs show lower rates of teen sex than the US, which has less intensive sex-ed and more abstinence education.

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_teens.html

I specifically point out these findings:

• Countries with low levels of adolescent pregnancy, childbearing and STDs are characterized by societal acceptance of adolescent sexual relationships, combined with comprehensive and balanced information about sexuality and clear expectations about commitment and prevention of pregnancy and STDs within these relationships.
• Easy access to contraceptives and other reproductive health services contributes to better contraceptive use and, in turn, low teenage pregnancy rates.



Not if nobody tells you about the fine, nor teaches you how to drive below the speed limit, but rather just says "Don't speed!"



Think of it this way. 9 out of 10 kids are going to drive. Driving has risks. Are you going to tell them not to drive until they have their own car, or are you going to teach them to drive safely? The ones that aren't going to drive until they have their own car aren't going to drive anyway. But for the ones who do drive, they should be taught how to do so safely. Even for the ones that wait for their own car, once they get it, they still need to know how to drive safely.


Practically everyone will have sex, either before or within marriage. They all need to know how to do it safely and responsibly, whenever that time comes.

*bump*

Got any response, brightmorningstar?