Most abortion debates fail to advance the conversation because the two sides aren't arguing on the same grounds — one side makes a moral or religious case, the other a case from women's rights; so they talk past each other. Kerry Baldwin argues that there's a better approach. In this FreedomFest debate with Michael Shermer, Baldwin makes her case. Shermer approaches abortion from a secular humanist perspective, making a moral-pragmatic case for pro-choice that centers the lived reality and full moral status of women. Baldwin, though a professing Christian, does not argue from religious or moral grounds. Instead, she argues from a natural law, libertarian legal-rights, and free-market perspective. Both are critical of the conventional pro-life argument, and both believe that reducing unwanted pregnancies through free-market solutions is the practical path forward. What they disagree on is whether a consistent defense of women's rights can stop short of recognizing fetal self-ownership. Rather than relitigating the familiar culture-war framing, this debate advances the liberty conversation by asking what libertarian principles actually require and what the net benefit is for women's rights more broadly.

Be sure to bring your questions and participate in Kerry's post-debate live Q&A here: https://mereliberty.com/freedomfest-attendee-email-list/

Kerry's main site: https://mereliberty.com/

The Reformed Libertarians Podcast: https://libertarianchristians.com/shows/reformed-libertarians-podcast/

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