Utilitarianism and abortion question B

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Only utilitarian ethics is useful in assessing the issues surrounding abortion - Discuss (10 marks)

Plan: What is the best outcome for as many people as possible?

Rule- abortion is undesirable but law states that it is allowed.

Act - Would be better to apply individual dilemmas of whether it would bring about the greatest good and least pain - hedonic calculus

Sanctity of life and quality of life place more value on life

Essay

Utilitarian can be argued to be a useful approach to the issues surrounding abortion, as it is based around finding the greatest good, or best outcome for as many people as possible. Utilitarian can be categorised into two forms, Act and Rule.

Jeremy Bentham's Act utilitarianism would address issues of abortion by applying the option to each individual. For example, whether it would bring about more please for the mother, father, family and baby itself for the child to be born, or whether it would cause more pain. In order to work this out, Bentham would use the hedonic calculus, which would aim to measure the amount of happiness and pleasure that having a child would bring. However, this may not be the best ethical approach, as outcomes are unpredictable.

J.S Mill's Rule utilitarianism takes a similar approach, however states that abortion will always be an undesirable option, yet under current law is allowed to happen.

Utilitarianism does not take into account the concepts of sanctity of life, or quality of life, which state that life has intrinsic value. Arguably, the principles of quality of life is the most useful ethic to address issues surrounding abortion, as it takes into account the lifestyle and environment of the mother and potential child, as well as considering what it means to be a person. The principles of the sanctity of life place intrinsic worth on all human life, and state that abortion would be murdering innocent life. However if the issues around abortion are threatening the mother's life, the doctrine of the double effect would apply, carrying out a good act, even though it could have bad consequences. For example, removing a developing foetus from the fallopian tube.

To conclude, Utilitarianism is not the only useful ethical approach to assess issues surrounding abortion as it places little value on the life of the foetus, and the happiness of the baby could easily be overlooked. While, ethical principles such as the sanctity and quality of life place high value on all life and would always consider abortion to be an undesirable option.

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