A Libertarian philosopher, Murray N. Rothbard, whom I respect, shares many Libertarians’ argument of the “uninvited guest” or what is sometimes referred to as “the right to evict.”
However, one of Rothbard’s longtime friends, a Libertarian by the name of Fr. Sadowsky, challenged Rothbard’s argument in an article titled, “Abortion and the Rights of the Child.”
Fr. Sadowsky asks, would we be justified in throwing a stowaway out of an aircraft after discovery in mid-flight? If you wait until the aircraft lands, “at least the stowaway leaves the aircraft in the condition in which he arrived.”
Fr. Sadowsky goes on to say that we cannot assume that an unborn child is a trespasser at all and that she does not have a right to be in her own mother’s womb. What is the only purpose of a mother’s womb? Fr. Sadowsky argues that human nature itself (not “white, cis males”) demonstrates a child’s natural right to occupy her own mother’s womb.
Rothbard’s rebuttal to the aircraft analogy was that an aircraft flight is only a few hours, but pregnancy is for nine months! How about a months-long voyage on a vessel? Would throwing the stowaway overboard be any better? Well, he would have more of a chance of survival, but this is not true of abortion.
Libertarians talk a lot about the non-aggression principle. Randy England, a Libertarian Author posed this question, if someone places a baby in a woman’s arms, does she have the right to drop the baby to the floor? “Most would agree that [even though she has the right to do as she wishes with her own body], she becomes an aggressor and society has every right to prevent her from doing so.
The woman could just say that the baby is not a human being. Problem solved? Some argued that slaves were less than human, but this did not justify slavery.
Abortion-on-demand is immoral and many would argue criminal (as was slavery). The sole purpose of government is to protect Life, Liberty, and Property (in this order).
If you would like to read more about this, there is a chapter in Randy England’s book, “Free is Beautiful,” which I recommend.