peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley) (04/09/84)
In the interest of providing food for thought, I offer the beginnings of a Machiavellian analysis of the issue of abortion. Please, no flames-- I'm not saying that you, your friend, or anyone, acts this way; just that it is conceivable that these considerations play a part in *some* opinions. Machiavelli claimed that everyone seeks to maximize their own power. This can be power to do whatever one wants to do, or power over what other people do. So he would claim that a pro-choice female solely wants the power to control her own body. And that any pro-life advocate wants to deprive someone of the option of having an abortion solely to exert power over that person. I'm not sure what Machiavelli would say about a pro-choice male. When considering the activities and statements of an organized group, it is useful to wonder whether the members (or leader) of the group are truly interested in the issue per se, or are primarily interested in increasing their individual or collective power. p. rowley, U. Toronto.