Self-Determination - Has It's Limits

The right to abortion is part of a wider agenda of self-determination for women.  Women want to be able to self-determine in regards, amongst other things, their education and careers, their domestic circumstances, their sexuality and their reproductive rights. And it is an unwise or naïve person who would deny them the basic right of self-determination; that battle is long over, even if not fully realised for all women.

The sense gained by, and the fact of, personal self-determination is a powerful motivator; the loss of it discouraging and demotivating. Women have fought for this, against the tide.

Most would consider self-determination to be a fundamental human right – as opposed to claims for inalienable human rights that a lot of personal preferences demand; human rights began community-oriented, not individually focussed.

Self-determination has limits though.  Much of what makes us what we are is determinative – in that we choose very little when it comes to a myriad of major determining issues: family, community, race, sex, education, political leanings, country, era, etc. In these issues, self-determination bears on our responses, not on our circumstances. This does not lessen the impact and value of self-determination, but it adds modesty to its claims. We aren’t infinitely able to self-determine and beware the person who suggests we, or they, are - they are more likely to be an actualised devil than a would-be God.

We can’t deny women the right to self-determine (where possible) their careers, decision to marry, have children or not, be educated, etc. But is it asking more than is possible to self-determine in the case of reproductive capacity, as this is already largely determined, in that one is a woman? If you follow the logical consequence of sexual relations a potential determination is already made, if unprotected – pregnancy? More importantly, can a woman’s self-determination disregard and dispose of new life developing in the womb?  Self-determination doesn’t axiomatically own the right of denial to someone/thing that can’t yet act in a self-determinative manner.   Is it possible that responsibility for a dependent overrides the self-determining decisions of a mother-to-be? 

Ethics may trump rights, instead of the increasingly common case of individual rights overwhelming ethical responsibility to community. 

Self-determination has its limits.