Document Type
Article
Date
2025
Keywords
contraception, conception, abortion, Dante, medieval science and medicine, reproductive justice
Language
English
Disciplines
Italian Language and Literature
Description/Abstract
This article provides an overview of the dominant views expressed in legal, medical and religious/theological traditions in the late Middle Ages in order to illustrate two basic points: 1) that the “historical precedent” with regard to abortive practices in the medieval Christian West was less homogenous and more diverse than the Supreme Court Justices assumed in their opinion delivered in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022); and 2) that – in stark contrast with what many anti-abortion activists today might assume about the historical precedent, – medieval thinkers did not generally believe that human life begins at conception.
The article then uses the above framework to contextualize Dante’s attitudes toward abortion and contraception more generally. In accordance with theological, medical and legal traditions, Dante also does not believe that life begins at conception. Instead, the fetus goes through various stages of development in the womb – spiritual and physical – before it is considered human. However, this belief does not necessarily translate into unqualified support for methods to try to prevent or terminate pregnancies. While Dante does not explicitly employ words for abortion or contraception, or include them in his classification of sins and vices, a number of negative allusions to these practices are found in his works. By investigating Dante’s views on abortion and contraception, I hope to strengthen our understanding of the variety of attitudes toward contraceptive practices in the late Middle Ages – going beyond those expressed in authoritative works of theology, medicine and legal theory to consider how the issues were treated in works of literature, which might point toward more popular views as well.
Recommended Citation
Leone, Anne C. "Preventing Pregnancy: Dante and Medieval Culture." Dante Studies, vol. 142, 2024, p. 34-66. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/das.2024.a950978.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
