Abortion and rights language

Abstract

The abortion debate in the United States today is considered, with a particular focus on the use of rights language. The methodology of interpretation is dimensional anthropology rhetorical criticism, an approach developed by the author, which focuses on nature, divine transcendence, society, and individuality as the key dimensions within which rhetorical arguments are made regarding abortion. The first part of the thesis demonstrates that the use of rights language in the abortion debate (and in Western culture more generally) is in disarray. The second part of the thesis argues that: (1) rights language is always rhetorical, (2) dimensional anthropology enables us to understand better why different people use rights language in the way that they do, (3) Rene Girard?s account of the historical roots of rights language in the West is important to consider, (4) the pro-choice position can be criticized from the pro-life perspective as a failure to maintain balance within the dimensions.