Libertarians and Abortion: Pro Choice or Pro Life?
The issue of abortion divides not only society but also the libertarian movement.
Some libertarians such as Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard were pro-choice, while others such as Ron Paul are pro-life. In fact, the issue can even result in separate factions within libertarian groups.
To explain my arguments, I will split the pro-choice and pro-life positions by their motivations. I acknowledge not all pro-choice people have the same motivations nor do all pro-life people feel the same, but it is sufficient for this purpose.
Pro-choice:
Motivation 1: Feminism
Those who are pro-choice on the basis of feminism will argue that the availability of abortion enhances female empowerment, and that banning or restricting abortion is tantamount to an act of male oppression designed to control women on behalf of the patriarchy. They often also point out the burden of pregnancy is on women’s bodies and that women carry the burden of pregnancy, not men.
Motivation 2: Utilitarianism
Those who are pro-choice on the basis of utilitarianism will argue that abortion helps reduce suffering from things like poverty or medical complications or conditions. For example, not wanting to force a woman to deliver a child into poverty or abuse, not wanting a child to suffer from a painful medical condition, or if the pregnancy aggravates a medical issue.
she should have the right to remove it, just as someone has the right to remove a guest from their property.
Motivation 3: Medical Freedom:
Those who are pro-choice on the basis of medical freedom will argue that allowing abortion protects individual rights, particularly bodily autonomy. Many acknowledge the fact that abortion kills the unborn child but argue that not allowing abortion results in worse violations of individual rights and that it is wrong to violate the bodily autonomy of one person to keep another alive. There is also a focus on individual privacy and how making abortion a crime leads to government surveillance and control of medical and personal decisions.
In addition, people with both the feminist and medical freedom viewpoints will argue that it is wrong to use a woman as a vessel. All pro-choice people tend to have at least one of these motivations for being pro-choice.
Pro-life:
Motivation 1: Religion
Those who are pro-life on the basis of religion will argue that abortion is immoral on principle. For example, ‘God believes abortion is immoral’ or that it is banned by religious scripture.
Motivation 2: Science
Those who are pro-life on the basis of science will argue that abortion is wrong because the unborn baby is a living person and killing it is murder. Even though the baby is inside the mother’s baby, she doesn’t have the right to kill it, and the mother’s right to bodily autonomy doesn’t override the baby’s right to life. They say that if she didn’t want to get pregnant, she should have used birth control or made him wear a condom. The argument that abortion leads to long term mental distress and regret to the mother is often brought up.
All pro-life people tend have at least one of these two motivations for being pro-life.
So, what is the true libertarian position on abortion? Holding a libertarian position on abortion isn’t about whether you are pro-choice, pro-life or anywhere in between, but rather your motivation for your position.
Most libertarians recognise the abortion issue involves competing needs and rights between two parties with no ideal solution. Whether you prioritise the rights of the mother or the unborn child or try to compromise, your solution will end up violating the rights of at least one party.
Pro-choice libertarians tend to have medical freedom as their primary motivation and will say that preventing the abortion violates the mother’s bodily autonomy. Pro-life libertarians will say that killing the unborn child violates the unborn child’s bodily autonomy. If the position is motivated by the desire to protect bodily autonomy, then it is a legitimate libertarian position.
I myself am a pro-choice libertarian, driven primarily by medical freedom, and also by utilitarianism. I believe it is wrong to violate the bodily autonomy of one person to keep another alive. Given the baby is located inside the mother’s body, I believe she should have the right to remove it, just as someone has the right to remove a guest from their property.
Those who are pro-choice on the basis of medical freedom will argue that allowing abortion protects individual rights, particularly bodily autonomy.
I don’t think people who don’t want children make good parents and forcing people to have a child they can’t afford or properly care for will lead to suffering for both parties. I also believe that if a blue haired intersectional feminist gets pregnant with a baby boy, it would be best to let her have an abortion for the child’s sake.
Despite my pro-choice position, the unborn child should not be without any protections. Abortions should be done in a humane manner and if the mother is closer to the end of her pregnancy, the unborn child should be delivered alive if possible. I find early term abortions to be less reprehensible than late term abortions. In places where abortions are legal and accessible, most abortions tend to be early term, with late term abortions typically involving some unfortunate circumstances.
Despite the disagreements between pro-choice and pro-life libertarians, there are still three things that all libertarians can find common ground on:
Taxpayer money should not be used to pay for elective abortions.
Medical professionals should not be compelled to participate in or assist in procuring an abortion. Abortion is in most cases an elective procedure.
Pro-life activists should have the right to peacefully protest and pray near abortion clinics on public property, and pro-choice activists should have the right to peacefully protest on public property near anti-abortion centres such as churches.
Interestingly, I used to be pro-life until part way through the Covid pandemic. I changed my position because I felt hypocritical being pro-choice for the Covid vaccine and pro-life for abortion. I value consistency in my political positions.
Given my past pro-life position, I can still empathise with and respect the libertarian pro-life position. I may not agree with other libertarians on abortion, but I can still work with other libertarians on the many things we do agree on so that we can make the world a more libertarian place.
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