Why Ectogestation Is Unlikely to Transform the Abortion Debate

A Discussion of ‘Ectogestation and the Problem of Abortion’

Bibliographic Data

ID19563039
AuthorsDaniel Rodger (0000-0002-2121-7167, London South Bank University, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume34
Issue4
Pages1929-1935
Publication date2021-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy & Technology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2210-5433 • E-ISSN: 2210-5441
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s13347-020-00436-1
OpenAlexW3096579147
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited31

In this commentary, I will consider the implications of the argument made by Christopher Stratman (2020) in ‘Ectogestation and the Problem of Abortion’. Clearly, the possibility of ectogestation will have some effect on the ethical debate on abortion. However, I have become increasingly sceptical that the possibility of ectogestation will transform the problem of abortion. Here, I outline some of my reasons to justify this scepticism. First, I argue that virtually everything we already know about unintended pregnancies, abortion and adoption does not prima facie support the assumption that a large shift to ectogestation would occur. Moreover, if ectogestation does not lead to significant restrictions to abortion, then there will be no radical transformation of the practice of abortion. Second, abortion is already associated with stigma, and so the presence of ectogestation would need to create additional stigma to modify behaviour. Finally, I argue that ectogestation shifts the debate away from the foetus to the human subject of the artificial womb—the gestateling, therefore creating a new category of killing—gestaticide. However, this would only reorient the debate rather than end it

Abortion · Epistemology · Political science · Pregnancy · Prima facie · Skepticism · Computer Science · Law · Medicine · Philosophy · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Sexual function and dysfunction studies

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