virus: Abortion, etc.

Ike Hall (ike@dns.genesis.net)
Tue, 12 Mar 1996 10:11:48 -0700


Having read all of Dawkins books and a couple of Dennett's, I feel like taking

a stab at the Viral stance on abortion (and perhaps a couple of other issues).

Following Dawkins' selfish gene theory, the purpose of biological organisms is

to replicate their genes. If one does not wish to do this, one must figure out

a way to interrupt the cycle. Any method of interrupting the reproductive

cycle is essentially equivalent to any other, as the results are the same.

Celibacy, contraception, sterilization, and abortion are therefore one and the

same - interruptions of the natural reproductive process. Celibacy is perhaps

the most extreme as its practice denies the practitioner's basic biological

programming. Abortion is perhaps the most short-sighted, as it is a painful

and expensive procedure that, in all honesty, can be avoided by thinking

ahead. Certainly it makes no difference which method one chooses, but one can

certainly see that contraception or sterilization have slight advantages.

Reason tells us that humans no longer have the luxury of total reproductive

freedom if the planet is to support a great diversity of life.

I'm not a hypocrite, at least. I've had a vasectomy and my wife and I have no

children.

I hope this letter helps. Please use it in any way, and feel free to write.

Ike

--
Ike Hall           "This train, with grey tubes that houses
Amarillo, Texas       people's thoughts, their very remains
ike@dns.genesis.net      and belongings" -Captain Beefheart
http://www.genesis.net/ike/ike.html       Email for PGP key