There’s a major flaw in the discussion on abortion. Abortion isn’t the problem regardless of your ethical feelings on the topic- it’s a symptom of a problem. A person who is otherwise ethically against cannibalism is still very likely to think about it or even do it if they feel it is dire enough. In such a case the problem isn’t the eating of people- it’s the scenario and circumstances that led that to be what you thought to be your best scenario. The key is in doing everything we can to reduce the number of preventable unwanted pregnancies- you will naturally see a decline in abortions if you do that.
Well.... sort of. Most countries in the world- no matter how “rich” or “poor” Cannibalism for self preservation is a very rare thing. In developed countries it essentially never happens outside of absolute outlying circumstances. Because in large part- almost any need to do so or feeling of need to do so has been mitigated. Large complex problems tend to be best broken up into manageable chunks. Once you’ve taken steps that not only solve 90% of your problem without the friction and resistance of tackling a major cultural issue- but you’ve carried out steps to enhance the lives of ALL people- in a situation where a person sees Cannibalism as the best option- taking their only choice, and what they see as the best choice, and offering no alternative is punitive regardless of ones morality.
Even if we shared a universal morality on all issues- we all compromise our morals on one way or another at one point or another when it’s a practical imperative- save perhaps the statistical anomaly. So another moral issue is created- solving one problem and creating another just makes a problem for tomorrow. So you help those you can or will be helped to avoid a situation or get out of a situation where Cannibalism would seem the best choice. What cases remain become very few- easier to deal with on a case by case basis or as a whole.
To drop the metaphor- almost 1/4 of women in the US will have an abortion in their life. That’s hardly a discountable percentage. It’s hard to argue against something so socially prevalent. But if you could reduce that number- not that I advocate it- but a discussion on how to regulate or legislate as well as administration would be much easier. Likewise- if one is willing to create what is seen as a “lesser” wrong to stop women from getting abortions by taking away an option for those in a corner- less abortions would still be a lesser wrong than “many” in those terms- so the principal of compromise of morality for “lesser evil” is inherent to the position of abolition. This is a trade of one compromise for “greater good against lesser evil” which serves the interests and moral framework of both parties.
But- in the end.... yeah. You pretty much just gotta learn to live with it even if it outraged or upsets you to hear about. It’s upsetting to hear a person lost somewhere or trapped ate another human too- but it’s also something we have to live with unless we can completely eliminate situations where it might occur.
As that applies to abortion- what “good” is served by an illegal “back alley” abortion? A fetus is still most likely aborted, but now the mother herself faces severe danger, and regardless has been made a criminal by her actions. If we say the fetus “dies” then it isn’t much better to have 2 deaths than one is it? What we will do? Lock these women up? So 25% of The women in America can go to jail? That’s a lot of lives ruined isn’t it? And if the point of the abortion is often the mothers fear of “ruining her life...” she goes to prison and we have a dead fetus and a ruined life- so things are WORSE than if we just let her do it. Worse still that the money spent investigating and prosecuting and incarcerating these women could have gone to preventing the crime and the “murder” and thus we could have had win win win instead of all loose.
Does the pregnant 12yo get tried as an adult and sent to grown up prison due to the nature of the crime? How’s that even work? If criminalization works... why’d we repeal prohibition when booze and related causes are right at the top of the list for deaths in the US? Why is weed increasingly legal? Why is it that after 10,000 years we still have thieves? Why are repeat offenders so common? People who commit many crimes tend to be desperate and or short sighted. People who get abortions are often desperate and overwhelmed. That’s a recipe for a person who isn’t likely to look at the consequences and focus on the potential relief.
So HOPEFULLY what you’d do about the left over Cannibalism is be smart about it. Think- and not be reactively emotional, but consider the bigger picture and realize that part of being a grown up is seeing that the world isn’t “black and white” but shades of gray. That often tiles doing “good” requires some compromise and you’re unlikely to get your way 100%, but taking a deal that gets you most of the way there as opposed to throwing it all away because you can’t have exactly what you want.
Not.