system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How is early abortion different than deciding not to have another kid?

I’ve always thought of the two the same.

Example:

- A couple decides to get an abortion early on (not physically hurting the baby) and thus prevents a "would-be" life.

- A couple has 2 kids and decides not to have another. Thus, not having a 3rd and preventing a "would-be" life.
gpt
The difference from an "objective" standpoint is that in an abortion, you destroy something that presently exists (whatever that something is). In deciding not to have a child, you avoid bringing anything into existence at all.
From a more subjective standpoint, it depends on what the definition of "a life" is. Your first example hinges on the assumption that what has been aborted is not a life already. Do you define the beginning of life as the capacity to feel pain?