Abortion

Abortion

1. For- Pro-choice

   • respect individuals autonomy and that it is that person's choice to make what to do with their child.
   • Shouldn't force people to have a child- if they don't want to/can't have a baby because don't have the right conditions e.g. no money then the baby will grow up badly.
   • What if you've been raped- you shouldn't have to have that baby- it's your body so it's your choice. The baby is not a separate entity yet, it survives of you, so it matters what you want to do with the baby.
   • Judith Jarvis Thompson- Used the violinist example to explain why she's pro-choice. Used this thought experiment- if you woke up one day and you were hooked up to a violinist to keep him alive. But you only have to keep him there for 9 months. This shows how unfair this argument for pro-choice is because it is literally not allowing you to have your own choice over your body- you are stuck like that.
   • The baby when it is aborted is not a person yet and feels no pain when the procedure happens, so it should be allowed.
   • Utilitarianism- if it creates the most amount of happiness it's good.

2. Against- Pro-life

   • NML- primary precepts include preserve life.
   • Sanctity of life- view that life is sacred may come from the fact that we have been created in God's image.
   • Catholic Church is against abortion.
   • The fetus has a potential for life- meaning it is not a life yet but it should have the chance like everyone else to become a human.
   • there are other options if you can't take care of it e.g. adoption after you've had the baby.