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From: powers@noscvax.UUCP (William J. Powers)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: Torek's SECOND ANNUAL CONCLUSIVE ARGUMENT :->
Message-ID: <1012@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 15-Jul-85 10:58:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: noscvax.1012
Posted: Mon Jul 15 10:58:46 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Jul-85 03:18:19 EDT
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Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
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> This is getting long, so I'll give my answer now and save the reasons
> for later.  As far as depriving it of life, an individual H. sapiens
> merits comparable concern and protection to that given adults, AS SOON
> AS IT BECOMES SENTIENT (i.e. capable of an experience of any sort (sight,
> touch, pain, etc.)) if it can be expected to live to be a normal adult.
> ("Normal" in any sense that is considered ethically relevant to the 
> concern and protection for adults -- an issue I would like to beg by
> simply assuming that I can here apply whatever the right view is there.)
> 
> OK netland, you can flame away now. 			--Paul V Torek

As I've pointed out before, morality has nothing what-so-ever to do
with equal protection.  I would agree that concern for fetuses (and ALL
living forms) is a moral issue.  However, there is absolutely nothing
intrinsic about fetuses, children, adults, and pets that implies
they require equal protection or concern.  As long as there are
different words for these creatures, they are distinct and subject to
different treatment.  That doesn`t mean that they have to be treated
differently.  The moral issue is embedded in the degree of concern.
The particular act which ensues is a matter of societal concern, but
not of moral concern.  If a society decides that all living forms are
sacred and not to be destroyed, then abortion or accidently stepping on
an ant are outlawed (Clearly, this society sanctions many forms of
destruction of living beings.)  It is not clear to me whether I would
rather have a sixteen year old girl having a child and passing the
responsibility of its fruitful life onto another (with all the
attitudes which that action implies) or having an abortion.  Neither
action seems desirable to me.  I would rather see her working out the
issue for herself and anyone else she chooses.  The reason I feel this
way is because as a world we don`t need higher birth rates.  However,
it does seem to me that we need more thoughtfullness.  More
independence of thought and concern for our relationships with others.
This sensitivity cannot be legislated or enforced and it cannot
rigidly hold particular positions ( that is the role of governments).

Bill Powers