The Stoic Perspective on Abortion

In this episode I take on one of the hardest and most emotionally charged topics of our time: abortion. Not to argue politics or to inflame division, but to examine how Stoicism frames the issue. We look at both pro-life and pro-choice arguments through Stoic logic, explore why rational agency is the core of the debate, and consider what it means to respect the choices of others when those choices belong to them and not to us. Key takeaways from this episode include: — For Stoics, moral weight belongs to rational agents — the pregnant person, not the fetus, since reason is what grounds justice and responsibility. — A Stoic pro-life case emphasizes Nature’s purpose, duties of care, and respect for a future rational being; a Stoic pro-choice case emphasizes rational deliberation, virtue, and justice in context. — Abortion is not, at its core, a political issue but a moral one — politicizing it strips the pregnant person of their proper role as the rational agent in the decision. — The Stoic response to abortion is twofold: deliberate with integrity if you face the choice yourself, and respect the rational deliberation of others if they face it instead. — Justice means giving to each what is due — and in the case of abortion, what is due is the dignity of rational agency. For an ad-free version of this podcast please visit https://stoicismpod.com/members For links to other valuable Stoic things, please visit https://links.stoicismpod.com If you'd like to provide feedback on this episode, or have question, you may do so as a member. Email sent by non-members will not be answered (though they may be read). This isn't punitive, I just cannot keep up. Limiting access to members reduces my workload. You're always invited to leave a comment on Spotify, member or not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices