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| Question | Answer |
| What is Abortion? | The artificial termination of a foetus - before it can survive independently. |
| Quote the 1967 Act of Parliament on Abortion, and state the amendment of this act in 1991. | Allows abortion on the ground that it can; a) Risk the life of the pregnant woman - mental, physical and emotional health inflicted on the mother or foetus, or any of her existing children. b) By the consent of two doctors. 1991 amendment: Reduced the time limit to 24 weeks - shows sign that foetus can survive independently. |
| Name one feminist supporter of abortion, and list any feminist claims to abortion. | Germain Greer - active feminist in the 1960s. 1. Cut backstreet abortions 2. Unwanted babies that potentially are born into a life of poverty. 3. Ban of male domination on women during the rise of secular society. |
| Explain the Sanctity of Life? | It is the belief, commonly held by the Christian Church. It holds that the life is sacred, and because God made us in his image, and that he is our Creator - life is sacred and can only be chosen to be taken by Him. |
| Quote Job 35:15 | 15 "Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?" |
| Explain Ensoulment. | It is an old traditional Christian belief present in ancient writings which states the time when the physical body is infused with the soul: 40 days for males, 90 days for females. It is linked to the Sanctity of Life where it views human life sacred. |
| Quote Jeremiah 1:5 and state how it can be used against abortion. | 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." This is an indication of the sanctity of life going against abortion - showing that God is the creator and that the will of taking another life only rests upon God alone. |
| Quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church against abortion. | Listed as 2270 Abortion, the Catholic Church recognises human life as sacred; "Human life must be respected from the moment of conception." "From his existence, a human being must be recognised as having the rights of the person." (Same can be used for Personhood). |
| Church of England views on Abortion? | Despite stating that they also uphold the sanctity of life, they also recognise the certain circumstances; "...but the right of the innocent to life surely admits few exceptions indeed. Circumstances exist... in some circumstances the foetus could be regarded as the aggressor on the mother." |
| Explain the three views on the question "When does Life Begin?" | Some believe life begins at conception, recognising that the embryo itself must be regarded as a potential human person - or in this case the sanctity of life retaining its protection. During pregnancy: Others have the view of Ensoulment but most significantly the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act state the embryo is regarded as a foetus in 14 days of conception. This is to mainly allow the legal aspect to scientific research. After Birth: |
| State John Locke's (1632 - 1704) view on Personhood, and how it can be used in support of abortion. | Recognises humans are sentient; 1. Capable of free will 2. Individuality 3. Social Nature 4. Principle of Reciprocity (give/take in social manner) However, a foetus protected in the womb do not retain these values, but only hold the potentiality of becoming a human. In this case, the fact that it is only a "potential" human and not already recognised as one, personhood allows abortion. |
| State some criticisms against John Locke's view against personhood. | It excludes people who are in a persistent vegetative state, animals or those who have severe disabilities. |
| State Michael Tooley's Principle of Moral Equivalence. | It describes how foetuses should not be considered as a person, justifying abortion. If we do the same things to animals, then can't we do it foetus as well? (Foetus does not have recognisable human features - physically or mentally). |
| State key concepts in John Locke's view on Liberal Body Ownership and its support to abortion. | Individual ownership of our body rejects personhood: a) Woman considering abortion has a right to the use of her body. b) Foetus being part of the body is subject to the ownership of the woman. c) Considering abortion means to improve a situation. |
| What is the Quality of Life argument? | The quality life assesses the value of the foetus life, and that human life is not inherently valuable but what kind of life it is. |
| Consider some general beliefs in in the Quality of Life argument and criticism against these beliefs. | Humans possess a sense of "self" to be considered a human; i) Must be conceived humans ii) Human genetic structure iii) To look like a human iv) must have soul v) viability to survive vi) potentiality of holding a future How do we really consider the development of a foetus having these qualities to become human? |
| Criticise Mary Anne's Warren criteria for personhood. | We cannot really determine whether foetuses do not really develop the ability of reasoning. But most importantly, it excludes those who have severe mental disabilities, in a PVS... etc... |
| What is the main idea behind Judith Jarvis Thompson's Analogy? | The Unconscious Violinist Analogy explains the fact that we are not "obligated" in certain circumstances (e.g rape, unwanted pregnancies) to protect the life of the innocent. |
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