American Bioethics Advisory Commission Demands...

[JKSCHW at aol.com]

Brett doesn't see why it's a problem for the left if as on Thompson's argument
for abortion, a right to life doesn't translate into a right to the means to
live, to effectively exercise that right. I would have thought that the point
that capitalist democracy provides rights without the means for mnost to
exercise and use them was the main thrust of the usual left critique ofg mere
formal democracy. That democarcy might not be merely formal where people do
have the means, in a more equal society, a point that Brett follows up with,
underlines the claim. In any case we are talking about abortion rights in a
capitalist and patriarchal society. What they woulkd mean or look like under a
socialist feminist democracy is a different matter which is not altogether
relevant here. 

--jks

In a message dated 98-11-24 11:37:17 EST, you write:

<< Justin,

 

 >This is of course Judith Thompson's argument in her paper _A Defense of

 >Abortion_, which I mentioned in an earlier post. It has the problem, from a

 >leftist point of view, of being based on the proposition that no one has a

 >right to the means of life if others must provide that means when they don't

 >want to. 

 

 Why is this a problem?  If a person in London needs a kidney transplant,

 and I'm the only one with a compatible kidney, most people would argue

 against forcing me to fly to England and give up my kidney to this patient,

 even though my refusal essentially signs his death warrant.  Simply because

 the burden this places on people is too great - dying people, or people in

 mortal danger would be granted enormous power over the rest of us.

 Unjustifiably, I would say. 

 

 >I used to point out to my right wing students that it was hard to

 >attack Thompson and oppose welfare. To my pro-choice students I used to note

 >that it was hard to use Thompson and defend welfare. 

 

 This doesn't follow.  The real problem is private ownership of productive

 capital.  This is a form of outright theft, and it is this crime which

 creates the conditions in which people need welfare.

 

 In the case where everyone has (roughly) equal access to the means of

 production, if an individual is slothful and doesn't perform any productive

 labor, then I would agree that others would not be obligated to provide for

 him/her.

 

 Brett

  >>