What is the difference between pro choice and pro lifer's view about the beginning of life?

Answer 1

At the center of the pro-choice / pro-life debate is the prioritization of values.

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The pro-life perspective believes that life - all Human life - is sacred, and must be protected, and therefore an abortion of a live fetus (a "life") is a violation of this belief. The pro-life argument places life itself as a paramount priority, and all other priorities are subordinate to the protection of life.

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The pro-choice perspective believes that a person has the right to control his/her own body, and this assertion of control includes a woman's right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. While the pro-choice perspective also values all life, it weighs the rights of the woman ahead of the rights of the unborn fetus.

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These two perspectives - all life is sacred; and a person has the right to control their own body - are rational and well respected perspectives, and seldom come into conflict with each other. But these well meaning beliefs diverge irreconcilably when (1) they intersect in the arena of abortion, and (2) people feel morally compelled to assert that their beliefs are the correct values that all should follow.

Answer 2

This is a difficult question to answer because not all "pro-life" people think alike, nor do all "pro-choice" people. For example, a large percentage of people who identify as "pro-life" believe that life begins at conception; thus it is not a fetus-- it is a pre-born child. For most of these people, this means any abortion, even in the case of rape or incest or to save the mother's life would be the same as murder. But there are some pro-life people who, while being opposed to abortion, believe there are some circumstances (including rape or to save the mother's life) where an exception could be made.

However, there are also some pro-life people who do not even believe in Birth Control: they oppose any form of contraception that would stop a sperm and an egg from uniting, and in their most extreme faction, they believe the woman's egg should be considered the same as a person. There is even a movement to pass amendments in certain states that would declare the egg a person; opponents of the "Personhood" movement believe this would outlaw not only abortion but many forms of birth control and infertility treatments as well.

As for those who identify as "pro-choice," there are nuances here too. Most pro-choice people (and it should be noted that pro-choice does not necessarily mean pro-abortion) believe the government should stay out of people's bedrooms and that a woman should have the right to decide what to do with her body, including whether or not to continue with a pregnancy. Most pro-choice people believe the fetus is not the same as a person, and most pro-choice people believe life begins when the brain stem develops-- when the fetus could survive outside the womb. Thus, there most pro-choicers believe that first trimester abortions are permissible. Late term abortion is a bit more controversial, but since such abortions are generally performed only for medical reasons, it is not a major source of discussion for those who identify as pro-choice: they mainly want the woman and the doctor to make the decision, rather than the church or the government. Pro-choice people tend to support family planning and contraception (particularly organizations like Planned Parenthood); they believe wider access to contraception will prevent the need for abortions. And only a small number want no limits whatsoever on access to abortion.