You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
RE: Is sacrifice a necessary part of parenthood?
Is it impractical to consistently sacrifice in a child-parent relationship if the child is disabled?
Is it impractical to consistently sacrifice in a child-parent relationship if the child is disabled?
Sacrifice is to surrender a value and expect nothing or less in return. Consistent sacrifice is impractical in any relationship.
Then are you suggesting that it is impractical to be in a child-parent relationship if the child is disabled?
Disability or not is a nonessential. It is very contextual. If it's impossible for the parents to find value in the kind of relationship possible to create with the disabled child it can be. But disability can take many forms and does not have to make it impossible for the parents to gain a huge value in the kind of relationship possible.
With that said. I can think of situations where it would be perfectly moral to give up the child to an institution or if possible get an abortion to prevent any long range sacrifice. It can destroy your life to take on a long range sacrifice.
So now you're saying to be in a child-parent relationship if the child is disabled can possibly even destroy your life?
Yes. Consistent sacrifice will destroy your life long range.
"It can destroy your life to take on a long range sacrifice," is a philosophical statement that makes some presuppositions that need to be defended...as well as some terms that need to be defined. It assumes complete sacrifice to the point of physical and mental exhaustion and to the exclusion of happiness cannot be meaningful, important or even be done joyfully. Notice that there is a difference between happiness and joy. Naturally you are making some assumptions about fulfillment, ultimate meaning, and so forth. In short, you perspective is quite true from a humanistic, self-centered perspective. If however, the truth is that there things more important than self your view is incorrect. I believe this to be the case.
As for it being morally acceptable to abort a child for your own gain, this also presupposes that your happiness is more important than that of anyone else. To make that assumption while claiming moral high ground is untenable to me.
Edit #2 I just noticed your tags. That explains a lot. Her views are interesting, but ultimately shallow and untenable. It has been some time since I have read her and studied objectivism, but it is not one of the more comprehensive, coherent, comprehensive, and congruent worldviews. How a worldview stands up to these "c's" is a good litmus test for it's preference I believe. Of course it has been my experience that debating an objectivist is doubly difficult because of what I would consider the major tenant...selfishness. Who does not want a worldview that says that it is not only ok to be selfish, but preferable and morally correct? Nonsense.