Synopsis "Life Choice: The Ethics and Ideologies of Abortion (in English)"
From the no-man's-land of the continuing conflict over abortion, "Life Choice" listens to women and makes a plea for women on differing sides to respect the integrity of the motivation of their sisters - even when they totally disagree - and suggests that questioning the automatic link between legality and morality may enable women to listen to each other. The author finds the framing of this conflict as a debate unhelpful and provides an alternative view, of the ambiguity inherent in tragedy, supported by both Classical myth and contemporary philosophy. Sympathetic to the motivations of both sides, his standard of humane ethics is rooted in an awareness of the man-made divisions that separate women and of the grief and loss sustained by women on all sides. In an ideological conflict of immortal souls versus politicised bodies, "Life Choice" pleads for free expression of the contraditions of the human heart. Alan McManus encourages men to dismantle the machinery of misogyny and women to find common ground in the material and moral support of women who want to continue with a pregnancy but experience great economic or social pressure not to give birth. Alan McManus, M.Theol.(hons), M.Phil, PGDE, M.Litt., Ph.D., wrote his doctoral thesis on the work of the creative and contrarian American Philosopher, Dr Robert M. Pirsig. "Life Choice" is the second book in a series of considerations of the ethical implications of his reading of pirsigian metaphysics (ontology) which started with "Only Say The Word: Affirming Gay and Lesbian Love", published by Christian Alternative in 2013. As well as publishing articles on political philosophy and WW1 remembrance in the online journal, "Citizenship, Social and Economics Education", his "Strange Attractors: Myth, Dream and Memory in Educational Methodology" is the final chapter of the "International Handbook of Interpretation in Educational Research" published by Springer in 2015. "Alchemy at the Chalkface: Pirsig, Pedagogy and the Metaphysics of Quality" is available at www.robertpirsig.org. Known also as an actor, novelist, playwright and dramaturg, his Twitter address is @gumptionology.
