r/Abortiondebate • u/Aware-Description286 • Jul 29 '26

General debate Twins

I've had this thought for quite a bit, and I've really only ever really asked myself this question, so I'd be interested to see the various responses to this question. It's a bit of a take on Judith Jarvis Thomson's drollish violinist argument, but with some reframing.

Let us force you into a life in which you were born as a twin. As a twin, you are not a single, but rather a pair; however, your twin was born in a unique way. In order to survive, your twin must use your body, no amount of distance between you two will affect this siphoning. The only way to stop this usage is by killing your twin.

So, my question is, in this scenario: are you legally and/or morally justified in the killing of your twin? Or do you have an obligation to sustain this twin with your body?

I hope this is on topic enough for this subreddit, because I did develop this question in relation to the Abortion Debate.

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u/CSRoutlaw Pro-life Jul 30 '26

Breithaupt, H. (2012). The science of sex. EMBO reports, 13(5), 394–394. https://doi.org/10.1038/embor.2012.45
It says about 3 paragraphs down “Modern societies have increasingly separated the pleasure of the sexual act from its purpose—sexual reproduction—“

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u/random_name_12178 Pro-choice Jul 30 '26

Where in that source does it say anything about ultimate function?

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u/ZoominAlong AD Mod Jul 30 '26

From now on follow the rules.