Abortion

Abortion

1. Status of the embryo

   • Some (Peter Singer etc.) argue the embryo is not yet human but does have potentiality
     • However there is no expectation that the embryo will become human and therefore it is allowable to abort it.
       • Some scholars argue that there should be no link drawn between potential and realization. Many train to become Olympic athletes but few achieve their goal.
         • Some argue against this, stating that you cannot make the comparison as the embryo does not have a personal choice.

2. Personhood

   • Debate over what is a person?
     • Some argue it is an independent being that socializes and can make decisions for itself (John Locke)
       • Principle of Reciprocity: Embryo can not give or take anything from a relationship and cannot make rational decisions + lacks consciousness

3. Status of the human body

   • Right of women to decide what happens to their body? Christianity: body on loan to the individual from God
     • John Locke: without the right to your own body many features of person hood should not occur (abiloty to reason
       • Human beings also have a natural inclination to improve their lives and therefore should have the freedom to enjoy the benefits of personal labour.
         • The body can be seen as property - ownership-as-use
           • This applied to abortion means that women should have the right to their bodies but should consider whether or not it will improve their life.

4. Abortion and Rights

   • Women have the right to control their body
     • Judith Jarvis Thomas (feminist philosopher) - women should not be obliged to give up the right to control their body without consent
   • Right may not always be a moral good - abortion causes damage frequently - the law has no connection with morality?
     • Does the foetus have the right to life? Is it a person or not?

5. Quality of life theory

   • In order to live meaningful lives, a peron must have sentience and self-awareness
   • If foetus does not have the potential for these qualities then abortion may be a moral neccesity
   • 4 criticisms:
     • 1) No definition to what quality of life means
     • 2) Should it be left to medical specialists to decide what a decent quality of life is - paternalistic
     • 3) Whose quality of life is being examined ion the circumstances
     • 4) What we consider a decent quality of life varies from society to society

6. Sanctity of life theory

   • Religion emphasises the importrance of life and the sanctity of life (made in Gods image)
   • Human life isa sacred and it is wrong to take life without just cause
   • Links back to personhood - divides Christians
   • 3 Criticisms:
     • 1) Sanctity given to human life has distorted morality
     • 2) Life of the foetus is sacred but the mothers is also
     • 3) Neo-Darwinian approach - concepts such as sacredness are meaningless - abortion can control an overcrowding population

7. Ensoulment

   • Foetus becomes a person at ensoulment
     • Ensoulment occurs once the foetus begins to look like a human/ human characteristics - soul and body become one
       • When is disputed: Aquinas (40 days), Augustine (80 days), Pope Innocent III (116 days)
         • Catholic Church today = moment of conception
   • 4 Criticisms:
     • 1) Dependent on an Aristotelian or dualist view that there is a soul and a body. Therefore many do not accept the principle that ensoulment is based on
     • 2) Many eggs concieved but some are naturally aborted - omnibenevolence? even after ensoulment?
     • 3) How can we know the precise moment the soul enters the body (40/80 days/different for males,females)
     • 4) No biological or psychological basis

8. Ethical theories

   • Liberal Christians
     • Situation ethics - if an abortion brings the most unconditional love in the situation then it may be morally right.
   • Natural Law
     • Goes against the primary precepts 'Preservation of life' and Pro-creation'. Also, it destroys the telos of sexual intercourse as its purpose is to create life.
   • Kantian Ethics
   • Utilitarianism
     • No value given to an embryo meaning abortion is not a problem for Utilitarians.
     • Main question that Utilitarians ask is whether or not an abortion will bring happiness to the greatest number.
       • This means considering everyone involved
         • Peter Singer would argue that everyone's preferences should be maximized. This includes family members, the women, the father etc.