Abortion Quote by Morris Sullivan
“The real conflict in the abortion issue is between a value - the right to choose whether or not to have the child - and a moral dictum - don't kill other humans. The more here, even, is flexible and relative. "Thou shall not kill" really means, "don't kill productive, contributing members of your own society that aren't a threat to your safety." If it was not relative, then no "Judeo-Christian" person could ever go to war or execute someone.”
About This Quote
The abortion debate pits individual autonomy against a moral injunction against killing, with the latter often interpreted flexibly to justify actions like war.
In simple terms: Conflict between personal choice and moral rule about killing.
Key Takeaway
Weigh personal rights against societal moral codes.
Themes
ethics
autonomy
life
morality
Mood
thought‑provoking
serious
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- legislation
- medical decisions
- war justification
- public policy
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Should moral rules be absolute or context‑dependent?
- How do societies reconcile personal freedoms with collective ethics?
A Different Perspective
Moral absolutes are rare, making consistent application difficult.
