GenesisNemesis
Let's Go Dark Brandon!
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2006
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- 3,897
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- California
- Basic Beliefs
- Secular Humanist, Scientific Skepticism, Strong Atheism
Dawkins says it's immoral not to.
L
So no, I wouldn't abort due to Downs or many other disorders.
You are not aborting an actual person, you are aborting a featus. And in this case a featus with great risks. Of course there are happy examples, but does that outweigh the risks?
And fact is: you dont hurt anyone. As Dawkins says: try again.
L
So no, I wouldn't abort due to Downs or many other disorders.
Think of it like this: since you can try again, you actually willfully decide that your child shall have that disorder. I find that very disturbing!
I will never be the person in a position to choose whether or not to abort a fetus. I do however always approve of the choice to abort, and I would approve even more in a case where the fetus was known to have Downs Syndrome. The only thing preventing me from agreeing with Dawkins' actual statement is the fact that I can't really sincerely endorse ideas like "immoral" or "moral responsibility".
IMO, the knowing that " I would not have been up to it" reflects the wisdom of one's being aware of their own limitations and has nothing to do with morality or immorality.I will never be the person in a position to choose whether or not to abort a fetus. I do however always approve of the choice to abort, and I would approve even more in a case where the fetus was known to have Downs Syndrome. The only thing preventing me from agreeing with Dawkins' actual statement is the fact that I can't really sincerely endorse ideas like "immoral" or "moral responsibility".
Totally agree. I have seen at a close distance parents struggling with a DS child, and, in another case, an even more rare chromosomal disorder. Yet another case still has no diagnosis after some 4 years - chromosomal or birth defect? I admire those parents for their efforts, pity their lost quality of life, and know that I wouldn't have been up to it.
I will no longer be in the position of having to choose, but I agree with what you are saying. I see not point in placing "morality" on such a difficult decision. I know/knew myself well enough to know what I could and could not handle at certain periods of my life. I completely support and understand someone making the choice to abort as well as the choice not to. I place no moral standing on either.I will never be the person in a position to choose whether or not to abort a fetus. I do however always approve of the choice to abort, and I would approve even more in a case where the fetus was known to have Downs Syndrome. The only thing preventing me from agreeing with Dawkins' actual statement is the fact that I can't really sincerely endorse ideas like "immoral" or "moral responsibility".
Well I see the point-- the point is to push people into making the approved-of (i.e. "right")decision by manipulating their incentive structure. If you have a preference about people's actions, "morality" is one of the tools you could potentially use towards influencing said actions. My problem isn't with the application of morality to this specific issue; my problem is with moral realism in general. While I don't recognize a moral obligation for me to be honest, I nonetheless have a sufficiently strong preference for honesty that I'm unable to make claims of the sort "Doing X would be immoral".I will no longer be in the position of having to choose, but I agree with what you are saying. I see not point in placing "morality" on such a difficult decision.I will never be the person in a position to choose whether or not to abort a fetus. I do however always approve of the choice to abort, and I would approve even more in a case where the fetus was known to have Downs Syndrome. The only thing preventing me from agreeing with Dawkins' actual statement is the fact that I can't really sincerely endorse ideas like "immoral" or "moral responsibility".
I know/knew myself well enough to know what I could and could not handle at certain periods of my life. I completely support and understand someone making the choice to abort as well as the choice not to. I place no moral standing on either.
Dawkins says it's immoral not to.