The Pro-Choice Fallacy, by R.M. Fields

When asked about the political plight of pro-life Democrats, presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg responded with what I call the “pro-choice fallacy.” According to Mr. Buttigieg, “I know that the difference of opinion that you and I have is one that we have come by honestly, and the best I can offer… is that if we can’t agree on where to draw the line, the next best thing we can do is agree on who should draw the line, and in my view it’s the woman who’s faced with that decision.”

This position is a false compromise. Like most pro-choice language, it plays on an equivocation between morality and preference. Because we can’t agree on the underlying moral principles (the argument suggests), we should let individuals choose the option they think best suits their particular life situation. The pro-choice fallacy therefore endorses something like the following moral principle: if A and B disagree on whether X is moral or immoral, then X should be permitted. We should let the person faced with the choice of X-ing decide whether or not to X. ….

Read more here crisismagazine.com/2020/the-pro-choice-fallacy