Peter Singer and Abortion

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that Peter Singer's criticism of the conservative position vis-a-vis abortion is not without merit. Specifically, the paper argue that Singer's stance that the unborn are not really human is credible if one recognizes that fetuses (as a general medical rule) cannot survive independent of the mother before at least five months have elapsed. The paper suggests that his arguments are tolerable within tight limitations.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Body of Paper
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Still, while it is easy to sharply criticize Singer for his cavalier attitude towards the unborn, a case can be presented that abortion - and the idea that fetuses are non-human - is tolerable within tight limitations. Specifically, any fetus which is present in the mother's womb before 18-20 weeks is most likely incapable of living outside of the womb; in that sense, it is a part of the mother and, if she so desires, the mother can rid herself of this "part". To put it another way, the fetus is a "bundle of cells" that is clearly not human in even the most generous sense and that makes it, for want of a better term, "disposable". While this writer is not a proponent of abortion as a general rule, it seems intuitive that something incapable of life outside the mother is therefore incapable of being considered a person in the same way that a child is a person. Going further, this sort of approach is perfectly in keeping with Singer's own belief that non-rational beings (the severely disabled, the very young) lacking the capacity for independent thought are also undeserving of the title, "human" (though this writer, as noted in a previous paper, finds Singer's argument in this respect disquieting and unethical)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bohan, James F. The House of Atreus: Abortion as a Human Rights Issue. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1999. Questia.com. 26 Feb. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=9605818>
• Christian Answers Network. "Does Life Begin Only When the Fetus is Viable?" ChristianAnswers.Net. n.d. Christian Answers Network. 26 Feb. 2007 <http://www.christiananswers.net/q-sum/q-life020.html>
• Goldstein, Amy. "Bush Signs Unborn Victims Act." The Washington Post 2 Apr. 2004: A04.
• Singer, Peter. Practical Ethics, 1st Edition. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1979.

More papers on Peter Singer and Abortion:

• Term Paper # 119378 : "Peter Singer"
• Analytical Essay # 23918 : "Peter Singer's Utilitarian Ethics and Abortion"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: