Abortions

asked 9 years ago

Regarding the relationship between the halakhic position on abortion and the moral position:
Is it possible that there is a difference in positions that stems from the fact that the law has religious and not moral considerations (or at least not only moral ones)… similar to the Maharal’s words regarding the laws of the Sabbath of loss…
Or in this case, do they both stem from the same question – when does life begin… a determination that will have moral and religious implications…
Or in other words, for a person who has a position that differs from the halakhah on this issue…. Is it possible that this is his moral position, which parallels halakhic determinations (easier to reconcile)… Or is it the same question, and the fact that he will accept the halakhic position is merely due to his acceptance of the Talmud, even though his position has religious implications that contradict this determination…

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מיכי Staff answered 9 years ago

First, sorry for the delay (I missed the question. Thanks to Oren, the editor, who doesn’t miss anything). I didn’t fully understand the question. As far as I understand, moral and religious considerations are not dependent on each other (see column 15 on the website). The concept of life can have different definitions in the moral context and in the religious context. Furthermore, life is probably not a binary concept, but rather there are different levels of life, and each context uses a different threshold. The same applies to a fetus, dying, predation, etc.

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יצחק replied 9 years ago

This is what I wanted to ask - what is the religious definition of life, which is different from the moral one?
(For example - regarding the concept of ownership, you explained that the religious meaning is a metaphysical connection between a person and an object, and in light of this one can understand the halakhic determinations… Do you have an article of the same type regarding the conjugator of life in its halakhic or moral meaning)

מיכי Staff replied 9 years ago

I do not have a parallel article. But note that even with regard to ownership, I did not provide the criteria for when such a connection exists, but rather I stated that it does. Here too, I say that there is a halakhic concept of life, distinct from the moral concept. Its definition is in accordance with the stipulations of halakhic law.