The abortion debate: a contribution from Ibuanyidanda perspective

Abstract

The morality of abortion has been the subject of debate among scholars for many years. The anti-abortionists query the rationale behind the destruction of one individual (the fetus) for the survival of another individual (the mother). The pro-abortionists on the other hand point to the benefit of abortion to the mother and the society at large as a veritable reason for the support of abortion. The concern of this research is that the pro-abortionists seem to be winning the debate, as more and more countries are legalizing abortion, and in the countries where abortion is still illegal, like Nigeria, the law is being defied daily and people are committing it en masse. This work aims at resolving and possibly reversing this trend by attempting to proffer sufficient reasons why abortion should be discouraged. This, it is hoped, will counter the pro-abortionist view which has provided the impetus for many to undergo abortion. Ibuanyidanda philosophy provides us with a suitable framework for the articulation of a different way to conceive human relationship and abortion in particular. The fetus is a missing link of reality that must be sustained in existence to keep in balance the complementary horizon inherent in the world. Ibuanyidanda conceives all missing links as constituting a complementary horizon which must be sustained to avoid the boomerang effect. It is based on this that we developed a moral argument that counters the anti-abortionist views. Abortion is wrong because the fetus is part of the complementary horizon that binds all reality into a unified whole. Abortion puts a knife to this complementary web. This work made use of philosophical methods like speculations, evaluation, criticism and argumentation in the assessment of the problem of abortion. The Abortion Debate: A Contribution from Ibuanyidanda Perspective Peter B. Bisong – University of Calabar, Nigeria; Joseph N. Ogar – University of Calabar, Nigeria & Asira E. Asira –University of Calabar, Nigeria INTRODUCTION The morality of abortion has been contested for many years now. It is a debate that has engaged the philosophers, scientists, psychologists, medical experts, ethicists, religionists and other scholars. Many have argued against abortion (anti-abortionists) and many have argued in favor (pro-abortionists) of it. The debate continues, and the pro-abortionists seem to be winning the debate, as more and more countries are legalizing abortion. The anti-abortionists are in essence not giving up, for though many countries are still considering legalizing it, many have declared it illegal. The Pro-abortionists argue that abortion is right. Derek (1993) for instance, points at the reduction of the death rate due to abortion since the legalization of abortion in America as a reason to support abortion. Other scholars like Harris (1985) argue that "the embryo or the fetus has no brain; hence ,lacks value and should be aborted at will." Appleton (2015) supports this position and argues that a fetus could only be said to be human if it has the capacity for mental functioning or consciousness. Hence, until a fetus develops a neurological body, it is not human and can be terminated. Ikwun (2006) argues that abortion is right because it prevents overpopulation. Others reasons given for the argument against abortion include: the argument that women have the right to do whatever they want with their body; the fetus is a property of the woman and she could do whatever she wants with it; the woman’s right supersedes that of the fetus, and thus in cases of danger to the mother the child should be aborted; abortion helps in the reduction of unwanted children who most often end up as street children and hoodlums. On the other hand, those in opposition of abortion also give a lot of reasons for their stance. Noonan (1989) for instance argues that the fetus is human because it is conceived by human parents, and on the basis of its humanity need not be aborted. He argues further that at conception the fetus receive genetic code which determines its characteristics as a human being. Koop argues in support of Noonan that, "human life begins at conception and is continuous whether intra or extra-uterine until death"(1989). According to Beckwith, engaging in intercourse is an indirect statement of responsibility for a baby, and thus when it comes, it must be maintained in existence. He writes: "the fact that he engaged in an act, sexual intercourse, which he fully realized could result in the creation of another human being, although he took every precaution to avoid such a result" (1992). Abortion he holds "opposes family morality, which has as one of its central beliefs that an individual has special personal obligations to his offspring and family which he does not have to other persons." Other reasons given by antiabortionists include: the fetus is created by God in his image and thus should not be tempered with; abortion promotes promiscuity; abortion denies the inherent right of the fetus to life; abortion is using wrong to correct the wrong; abortion is murder and is as bad as murder since the fetus is a human being, et cetera. This work aims at supporting the anti-abortionists, who seemingly are the losing side, for many countries have legalized abortion and many more are considering doing so. Even in those countries where abortion is illegal, abortion still goes on en masse. This work wishes to strengthen the argument of the anti-abortionists with the hope of deterring people from committing it. It bases its argument on Ibuanyidanda philosophy. Ibuanyidanda philosophy avers that "to be, is not to be alone but to be in a mutual complementary relationship of joyous service" (Asouzu 2004). This is because "anything that exists serves a missing link within the framework of the totality” (Asouzu 1990). This means that all beings are graspable only if they are grasped in relations to other beings, implying that everything exists in a complementary relationship that must be preserved to avert the boomerang effect. Any attempt, according to Asouzu, to negate the existence of the other missing links boomerang on the offender. Arguments for and against Abortion There are different arguments for and against abortion the pro-abortionists and the anti-