When does life begin? When
does life end? Is abortion
murder?
Science
Is all life equally valuable?
Does disability matter? What
makes a person?
Legality
Whose decision is it?
Why doesn't the father get a say?
Funding
Should it be funded? Is abortion a method of
contraception instead of a last resort?
Developments
Technology
We can now effectively remove foetuses
Backstreet abortion to now
Vera Drake
Science
We can test and assess the health and sex of the foetus.
Pre natal testing and Gene technology
Legality
Legal in the UK
illegal in Northern
Ireland
Savita Halappanavar
Funding
In the UK abortion is free on the NHS.
Should this be the case in a recession hit country?
Ethical Values
The Sanctity of Life
Aquinas
Natural Thelogy
Divine order to the way the
world is created. This is
Natural Law
Created the 5 Primary Precepts
1st is to preserve life.
"Natural law justifies abortion on moral grounds"
Pre-natal tests prompt rise in deaf babies
Schweitzer
"Ethics is nothing other than
the Reverence for Life".
All life is equal
No difference between plants,
animals and humans.
Everything has a will to live
Personhood
Glover
Life is nothing other than the "Vehicle for
consciousness"
"Mere" and "superior" levels of consciousness
Not everything has
a "will-to-live"
Harris
Value of own existence
If you are unable to value your own
existence you are a non-person"
You need "reason and reflection" to be a person
Foetuses with minor imperfections are being aborted
Singer
Concerned with 4 areas:
Birth, viability, quickening and conscious
Foetus isn't "self
aware or rational"
so it is ok to abort
Allowed for population
control
Woman in China forced to
have abortion at 7months
Consent
Anyone over the age of 13
2 docs must agree
Must be a danger to carry on with pregnancy
Physical or mental
Rights and Responisibilities
Seedhouse
The rings of uncertainty
Ring on outside= 4 then 3,2 and inside ring=0
Score 5 areas out of 4
Add them up and divide by 5
Score over 3, abortion can take place
The Ethical Grid
Split into 4
Outside grid=external, then consequentialism, duties & motive and then the inside grid=autonomy
Religious Principles
Christianity
Technology
"All human life is equal and
sacred". "Life is an intrinsic
absolute good". "Life must be
respected at all time".
Science
"All human life is sacred and equal". "Life is an
absolute and intrinsic good." "All life must be protected
at all time" "god created man in his own image".
Legality
God gave free will
Funding
"Treat others as you wish to be treated".
"Humans are intelligent beings".
Islam
Technology
"Allah is the creator and owner of
all life". "Take not life which Allah
has made sacred."