Bodily Autonomy
Bodily autonomy is the inherent right of individuals to govern their own bodies. It encapsulates the principle that everyone possesses an intrinsic right to make choices about their body, free from external influence or intrusion. This spans decisions about medical treatments, reproductive rights, parental rights, and even personal appearance.
For example in abortion debates, especially concerning late-term procedures competing claims to autonomy are being made. One perspective contends for the woman's complete autonomy over her body and her prerogative to decide if anyone else can live in that body or not, while the opposing viewpoint claims that the fetus is an individual and therefore should also enjoy the right of bodily autonomy and right to life. In such situations, the abortion debate becomes a zero-sum competition between different individuals and their autonomy rights.
For example in abortion debates, especially concerning late-term procedures competing claims to autonomy are being made. One perspective contends for the woman's complete autonomy over her body and her prerogative to decide if anyone else can live in that body or not, while the opposing viewpoint claims that the fetus is an individual and therefore should also enjoy the right of bodily autonomy and right to life. In such situations, the abortion debate becomes a zero-sum competition between different individuals and their autonomy rights.
In certain scenarios, quantifying the broader societal impact of personal decisions can be challenging. For instance, excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs may propel an individual towards anti-social or violent behavior, thus threatening public safety. Yet, quantifying this risk with precision is elusive. This ambiguity places legislators in a position where they must make subjective calls on which substances to regulate or prohibit. Given that rules of what adults can and can’t consume directly undermine their bodily autonomy, relying on these subjective judgments can seem concerning.
Making bodily autonomy decisions for others:
In certain situations decisions need to be made for people who can’t make those decisions on their own, for example, children, the mentally ill, and people on life support may need others to make certain decisions for them.
In these cases, the state may compete with family members on who should be making those decisions. For example, should parents be able to decide whether or not to vaccinate their children? Should parents be able to decide whether or not to treat their children with cancer? Should the state or the family members have the power to force medication on mentally ill people who refuse to get treated? These questions fundamentally tackle issues of determining which individuals have the right to make decisions for themselves and if they can’t who should be making them.
These are a few different angles from which bodily autonomy debates are happening in philosophical communities and on a political level, in this event we will review and tackle some of the main questions surrounding this topic.
Questions we will tackle at the event:
What rights should people have related to bodily autonomy?
What criteria could be used when deciding whether or not bodily autonomy can be undermined?
In what situations limits could be imposed on bodily autonomy rights?
What are the pro and con arguments in abortion debates?
What are the pro and con arguments in debates regarding drug abuse?
What are the pro and con arguments in vaccination debates?
Notes from the event:
What rights should people have related to bodily autonomy?
Bodily autonomy is one of the most fundamental human right
When deciding if a person’s bodily autonomy rights can be undermined one of the criteria could be the mental state of the person
Only situations with clear victims can sometimes call for someone’s bodily autonomy to be undermined
People should have rights until those rights start to infringe on other people’s rights
When the physical safety of other people is at risk it could call for undermining of someone’s bodily autonomy rights
The age of the person can be a factor when deciding if bodily autonomy rights can be undermined
Bodily autonomy decisions should be free of coercion
When someone's life is in danger bodily autonomy rights could be undermined
Abortion is one of the cases where bodily autonomy rights could be undermined
Euthanasia could be one of the cases where bodily autonomy rights could be undermined
In what situations limits could be imposed on bodily autonomy rights?
Arguments for allowing euthanasia:
Arguments for allowing euthanasia:
Other people are not directly harmed
Terminally ill people will die anyway so there is no point in forcing them to suffer if they wish to get euthanasia
People have a right to choose their own fate therefore their choice of euthanasia should be respected
Arguments for banning euthanasia:
People undergoing euthanasia can inadvertently push others to do the same
Euthanasia is a permanent decision but people can change their minds in the future
Undergoing euthanasia would negatively affect friends and family
Abortion
In certain cases, abortion can save a woman’s life
Having an unwanted child can ruin somebody's life
Children who are born just because their mother was forced to have them are not likely to have a good life
Unwanted pregnancy can have an effect on women's career opportunities
The fetus is not a person and therefore should not have the same level of rights as a woman who is pregnant
The rights to bodily autonomy of the adult who is carrying another person should supersede the rights to bodily autonomy of the fetus
In certain cases, abortion can save a woman’s life
Having an unwanted child can ruin somebody's life
Children who are born just because their mother was forced to have them are not likely to have a good life
Unwanted pregnancy can have an effect on women's career opportunities
The fetus is not a person and therefore should not have the same level of rights as a woman who is pregnant
The rights to bodily autonomy of the adult who is carrying another person should supersede the rights to bodily autonomy of the fetus
Arguments for banning abortions:
At some point, the fetus becomes a person and should receive bodily autonomy rights
Human life is sacred and must be protected
Murdering innocent people is always wrong, regardless of the outcomes
Arguments for compelling to seek treatment:
People should be compelled to seek treatment when their drug use is impacting other people's right to safety
People should be compelled to seek treatment if their drug use caries risk of societal harm
Drug abuse is self harm and people need to be protected from hurting themselves
Allowing people to abuse drugs can lead to other behaviors that negatively impact other people, e.g stealing
Drug use is primarily impacting the person who is using the drugs
The government has already made mistakes in the past when choosing which drugs need to be banned
Many people can use drugs in a healthy and constructive way
People can't change until they want to, so trying to force them is not going to be productive