I can imagine a time in the future when technology allows us to live in a world where abortions are unnecessary, since birth control of various types (plan B is a huge step in this direction) and simple laboratory fetus nurturing environments will displace it, but that time is certainly not here right now.
In the past, I’ve argued that this is where we need to go; conception and therefore pregnancy should be entirely voluntary. It was pointed out to me recently that there is a relatively new form of birth control, Implanon: it has a failure rate of only 0.05% (making it the most reliable form of birth control), and each implantation takes only minutes and lasts for three years. There are also IUDs, which have a slightly higher failure rate (~0.7%) and are slightly more invasive to implant, but last longer than Implanon and generally cost less.
Knowing this, it becomes extremely apparent that for any person who wants to prevent abortions, the instrumentally rational action is to promote implantation with one of these highly reliable, long-lasting forms of birth control for as many women as possible. (It would be great if we could be more egalitarian about it, but male hormonal birth control pills were only invented last year and aren’t commercially available yet.) I might take the “pro-life” movement seriously if I see any sign of such actions, but I haven’t yet.
In the past, I’ve argued that this is where we need to go; conception and therefore pregnancy should be entirely voluntary. It was pointed out to me recently that there is a relatively new form of birth control, Implanon: it has a failure rate of only 0.05% (making it the most reliable form of birth control), and each implantation takes only minutes and lasts for three years. There are also IUDs, which have a slightly higher failure rate (~0.7%) and are slightly more invasive to implant, but last longer than Implanon and generally cost less.
Knowing this, it becomes extremely apparent that for any person who wants to prevent abortions, the instrumentally rational action is to promote implantation with one of these highly reliable, long-lasting forms of birth control for as many women as possible. (It would be great if we could be more egalitarian about it, but male hormonal birth control pills were only invented last year and aren’t commercially available yet.) I might take the “pro-life” movement seriously if I see any sign of such actions, but I haven’t yet.