Abstract This paper offers a critique of a work by Susan Sherwin, "Abortion through a FeministEthicsLens," which takes the stance that abortion is appropriate within the individual contexts of many women's lives and should be determined by the needs and concerns of women - and not by the needs and concerns of the fetus. The paper outlines Sherwin's major conclusions on this important topic and the premises which underlie her position. The paper also notes several counter-arguments which can be raised in objection to her views. It concludes that while her article certainly has merit, she fails to satisfactorily consider the implications of her thought on some matters.
From the Paper "Most non-feminist perspectives on abortion consider the moral or the legal permissibility of the act in isolation whereas feminist perspectives look at abortion within the context of institutions that (allegedly) seek to subordinate women. Also, whereas other perspectives look at abortion within the context of abstract constructions such as property rights, feminist perspectives seek to look at abortion within the context of a woman's particular needs when she chooses this course of action. Going further, feminists argue that the moral dimensions of the discussion extend beyond simply whether or not abortion is right or wrong; they must also include a discussion about whether or not abortion clinics and services are accessible to women contemplating an abortion."
Abstract Women have suffered from the effects of discriminatory employment practices throughout the history of America. Women have traditionally earned less and enjoyed fewer management positions than their male counterparts. The reactions from the feminist community in response to this inequitable share of the American pie have caused a number of misperceptions to develop regarding both the intent and the purpose behind the feminist movement. This paper provides an overview of feministethics, followed by an assessment of how the issue is viewed by contemporary feminist authors and observers. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "Tong says that in order for women to develop a new sense of identity and purpose, they must adopt some new ways of thinking about how the male and female roles have evolved through the ages, and what effect these roles have had on our society today. Tong makes the point that when hard-pressed, even the most ardent feminist, like a Democrat or Republican, might have a difficult time defining precisely what the term means. For this author, feminism is not a monolithic ideology that is restricted to one aspect of these traditional relationships, rather it is one that must recognize everyone's stake in the outcome."
Tags: Simone, de, Beauvoir, H?l?ne, Cixous, Jean, Genet
Abstract This paper examines the underlying ethical arguments of both sides of the abortion debate, using Ronald Dworkin's "sanctity of life" principles. In this article, the writer includes all forms of abortion, from early fetal abortion through the RU46 drug to late-term abortions, from abortions out of "convenience" to abortions in cases of rape and incest. The essay evaluates how the anti-abortion crusade has framed its campaign on the personhood and the rights of the unborn fetus. The second part looks at the pro-abortion movement, which has framed its issue as a campaign for women's rights to privacy and reproductive freedom. The writer concludes that both pro- and anti-abortion factions have a common interest in seeing a society with no abortion, where the stigma and economic concerns attached to unwanted pregnancies no longer apply.
Outline:
Abortion and Ethics Anti-Abortion Arguments
Pro-Abortion Arguments
Works Cited
From the Paper "All these scientific arguments about fetal heart rates and brainwaves serve to tie abortion to a greater and more clear-cut moral issue - murder. At issue is what Ronald Dworkin terms people's belief in "the sanctity of life," a multidimensional value measured in several factors. First, life itself has an instrumental value, because everyone's life can contribute to the interests and well being of society as a whole. Second, life has a personal value, a good or personal worth to the living individual. Finally, beyond the instrumental and personal, life also has an intrinsic value. This intrinsic value exists independently of other people's valuation, regardless of the beliefs of its possessor or other observers."
"By proving that a fetus has a heartbeat, distinct DNA and brainwaves, through graphic films showing how a fetus reacts to shock and pain, the anti-abortion camp is focusing on what Dworkin identifies as the intrinsic value of life."
Abstract Abortion is a serious political, social and legal issue which has always been highly contentious. In this paper, the writer studies the issue from ethical perspective and discusses its possible spiritual and psychological consequences. The paper concludes that abortion raises ethical, spiritual, social and psychological issues and it is against Christian values and results in hazardous consequences.
Outline:
Abortion and Ethics Varying Viewpoints Regarding Abortion Proven and Possible Consequences of Abortion Spiritual Consequences
Psychological Consequences
Conclusion
Works Cited
From the Paper "In 1989, the survey conducted by Los Angeles Times discovered that "56% of women who had abortions felt guilty about it, and 26% "mostly regretted the abortion" (). Problems related to after-affects of abortion have been clinically proven and are called PAS. Research proves that "women suffering PAS may experience drug and alcohol abuse, personal relationship disorders, sexual dysfunction, repeated abortions, communications difficulties, damaged self-esteem, and even attempt suicide. Post-Abortion Syndrome appears to be a type of pattern of denial, which may last for five to ten years before emotional difficulties surface" (Is Abortion safe?)."
Tags: pro, life, pro, choice, psychological, christian
Abstract This paper examines the legal status of abortions and of the fetus. The author evaluates and the ethics of abortion and of making a woman carry a fetus to term. The paper considers situations where an abortion is ethical, if not legal.
From the Paper "Considering what is ethical and what is legal in terms of abortion can become very complex. When the Roe v Wade decision was handed down by the Supreme Court in legalizing abortion many believed that the Court's reasoning in reaching their decision could just as easily be used to justify infanticide which is clearly against the law. Dr. C. Everett Koop then Surgeon-in-Chief at Philadelphia's Children's Hospital and Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania gave a commencement speech that year at Wheaton College predicting ..."
This essay discusses the ethical dilemna that the abortion issue presents using the arguments of three philosophers, Judith Jarvis-Thompson, Mary Anne Warren and Don Marquis to analytically discuss and debate each of their individual positions.
Abstract Examined here is the seemingly intractable debate that has garnered much debate and philosophical discourse. Is abortion unethical? If so, on what grounds? Does a fetus have an unquestionable right to life? The arguments of three philosphers, Thompson, Warren, and Marquis attempt to construe argument devoid of appeal to religious sources. Actual logical arguments are put forth and then dissected by the author. Instruction of Informal fallacies also included, as well as topics such as debate through analogies, Criteria of Personhood, and Potentiality theories: FLO theory.
From the Paper "First let us begin with an argument derived from the article by Judith Jarvis-Thompson entitled, ?A Defense of Abortion.? She starts of with explaining the common pro-life argument, which relies heavily on the premise that a fetus is a human being and a person at the moment of conception. While examining the continuous expectancy that the fetus constantly develops into a child, she from this judges that to draw a line of personhood from this point or another is to exemplify the argument with an arbitrary carelessness. She makes no attempt to refute a fetus as a person or otherwise. To do so she deems as participation in a ?slippery-slope argument.? Thompson acknowledges that the fetus is a human well before it's birth, for it would be biologically unsound to state otherwise. Based on her take of the anti-abortionist's argument an acorn (a potential oak tree) would be viewed in the same way as an Oak tree is, even though that this is an incorrect and rather crude observation. From this basis, she says on cannot make a good examination until a better counter-argument is examined and then she says we will have more sufficient grounds on which to reject it or not."
Abstract This paper discusses the pros and cons of abortion. It examines issues such as the right of the woman to decide versus the right of the child to live, the view of the majority of Americans, abortion in the historical perspective, psychological effects on the woman and the threat to the mother's health.
From the Paper "Much has been written on the issue of abortion both in the popular press and in the philosophical literature. The debate focuses on two distinct issues: (1) whether a human fetus has a right to life, and, if so, (2) whether the rights of the mother ever override the fetus's right."
Abstract This paper delves into the legal, ethical and religious aspects surrounding abortion, while also focusing on the feminist view of this hotly-debate topic. The writer of this paper traces the roots of the abortion debate back to Susan B. Anthony. Anthony opposed abortion because the medical procedure, in her time, was unsafe and endangered a woman's health and life. This paper examines how feminists today defend the development of safe and effective birth control as a means to prevent abortion. This paper also looks at the views of various feminist organizations such as Feminists for Life and Feminists Against Abortion. This paper discusses the media's impact in the evolution of the "Pro-Choice" and "Pro-Life" movements. This paper also discusses how the laws regarding legal abortions have changed over the past 40 years. In 1965, all 50 states banned the procedure, with some exceptions. In 1973, The Supreme Court reversed the situation in the case of Roe vs. Wade, declaring most existing state abortion laws unconstitutional. The writer of this paper explores the issue of abortion in various religions, including Judaism and the different Christian sects. While those of the Catholic faith do not believe that abortion is an acceptable solution to undesired pregnancies, they do accept that there may be situations when an abortion must be considered. This paper also touches on the ethical side, where many believe that abortions should only be considered when the life of the mother is at stake. However, shades of grey enter into the picture when other reasons are offered as well, as detailed in this paper.
From the Paper "Although those of the Catholic faith do not believe that abortion is an acceptable solution to undesired pregnancies, they do accept that there may be situations when an abortion takes place as the outcome of trying to deal with another medical issue. For example, the Church would allow "the doctrine of double effect" if the mother requires a life-saving operation that may possibly end the pregnancy, since it is the first priority to save the woman's life rather than end the pregnancy.
Many Protestant denominations including the Anglicans, Methodists and Quakers have been disinclined to be as strict as the Catholic Church. Frequently, they accept that there are certain occasions when abortion is an unavoidable result of deciding between the "lesser of two evils."
To further complicate the issue, explains Ellingson, there is even disagreement among the Catholics and among the Protestants. "It is not just a Catholic and Protestant Debate."
Abstract Almost three decades after the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade case legalizing abortion in America, the issue remains the greatest moral flashpoint facing America today. This paper examines the underlying ethical arguments of both sides of the abortion debate, using Ronald Dworkin's "sanctity of life" principles. By ?abortion,? this paper includes all forms of abortion, from early fetal abortion through the RU46 drug to late-term abortions, from abortions out of "convenience" to abortions in cases of rape and incest. It evaluates how the anti-abortion crusade has framed their campaign on the personhood and the rights of the fetus. The second part looks at the pro-abortion movement, which has framed their issue as a campaign for women's reproductive rights. Finally, the paper examines the approach of a minority of women, activists from both camps who are working to bridge the gap between pro- and anti-abortion factions.
By presenting both sides, this paper argues that because of current societal structures that make unwanted pregnancy more likely to happen and its consequences more difficult to assume, abortion must remain an option, a ?necessary evil.? Both pro- and anti-abortion factions, however, must work towards their common ground ? a society where abortions are no longer necessary.
From the Paper "Despite the legality of abortion and its importance to women's rights, anti-abortion activists have successfully curtailed several pro-choice gains. More important, the "pro-life" camp's appeals to a higher moral law have successfully placed pro-choice advocates on the defensive.
However, pro-choice advocates also frame their stand on morality. Forcing a woman to continue and unwelcome pregnancy is ultimately harmful to the mother and the child. The creation of unwanted and uncared-for children has a two-fold effect of limiting a woman's potential for both the present and future motherhood. As Roiphe states, becoming a mother is a crucial choice and its imposition makes women into "slaves of their biology" (142)."
Tags: fetus, bible, christian, feminists, morality, birth, control
Abstract This paper discusses how abortion has evoked considerable debate and controversy throughout history. In the United States, it has been a subject of heated debate through most of its history. The paper reports that in recent times "pro-choice" and "pro-life" movements have taken diametrically opposite positions on the ethical, legal and medical aspects of the issue. The paper presents an overview of abortion's history in the US and discusses the legal decisions of the Supreme Court on the issue from Roe onwards.
Outline:
Early History of Abortion in the United States
Following the Common Law
Lenient Attitude
Upsurge in Abortions Physicians Lead Anti-Abortion Campaign
Turning of the Tide
Roe v. Wade (1973) and Subsequent U.S. Laws on Abortion Pro-Choice v Pro-Life Arguments
Does Life Begin at Conception?
Right of Woman Over Her Body
Fetus as a Parasite
Scientific Argument
The Religious Belief
The Feminist View on Abortion Public Opinion
The Pros and Cons of Pro-Life & Pro-Choice Arguments
Conclusion
From the Paper "Over the next decade and more, the US Supreme Court struck down several attempts by the state to restrict abortion. For example, in 1983 the Court found it unconstitutional to require a woman seeking abortion to be given information about risks or consequences of the procedure and to wait 24 hours after receiving information before having the abortion. Similarly, in 1986 the court struck down a Pennsylvania law requiring that state-developed materials about abortion be offered to women undergoing the procedure. (McGee and Merz, 2004) However, since 1989, the Court has permitted several state-imposed restrictions to stand. In its decision in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989), the court upheld a Missouri law that prohibited the use of public facilities or public employees for abortion and required a physician to determine the viability of a fetus older than 20 weeks before performing an abortion. In Rust v. Sullivan (1991), the court upheld a federal policy that prevented health care providers who received federal funding from engaging in any activities that encouraged or promoted abortion as a method of family planning (Ibid.)"
Abstract This paper is pro-abortion. The author points out that these case studies present different aspects of abortion. The paper stresses that the cases present the discussion of abortion with the fetus at the center or with the woman at the center which is the feminist perspective.
From the Paper "Suppose you wake up in the situation Thomson describes with an unconscious violinist plugged into your kidneys. Are you obliged to stay in bed plugged in for nine months? Compare this situation with that of a pregnancy. Thomson, Judith. "A Defense of Abortion". Thomson compares pregnancy to being hooked to a famous, ailing violinist. The comparison breaks down for several reasons, and is not adequate even in a rape case. However, it is useful for arguing viability, with which Thomson does not agree. According to Thomson, the person is not morally obligated to remain hooked up to the violinist, but the same does not hold true for pregnancy."
Abstract This paper studies the ethical conflicts surrounding abortion. The paper begins with an overview of ethics concepts, including beneficence, justice and autonomy. After explaining each of these terms, the paper attempts to apply them to the question of abortion. The author begins with the pro-life position, detailing how these three principles relate to the unborn child. Next the author applies the same principles to the rights of the mother to make decisions regarding her own body. The author concludes that both the pro-life and pro-choice factions have compelling ethical arguments on their side.
Outline
Introduction
Ethics Principles
Ethics Principles and Promotion of the Pro-Life Position
Ethics Principles and the Promotion of the Pro-Choice Position
Analysis and Conclusion
From the Paper "The principle of beneficence certainly does not support abortion. The requirement for nonmaleficence is violated when a fetus is aborted, as harm is intentionally being inflicted on an innocent human being. Abortions do not in any way promote the values of goodness, kindness, and charity. And, although the mother may feel that she is benefiting from the abortion, she may well be inflicting physical and mental harm on herself. Likewise, the principle of justice is violated by abortion. When a mother conceives, she owes life to her baby. In aborting her fetus, a mother is not treating her baby in accordance with what is fair, due, or owed. Fairness would dictate that a mother give her baby a chance at life. She owes, and her baby is due, no less. She can always place the baby for adoption if she does not want it."
Abstract The social order of the United States has been in a continuous debate over the issue of abortion since the early 1800s. State and federal laws have affected the legal medical practice of abortions and the individuals on both sides of the issue within the health care profession. The Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade contended that laws relating to women's rights were unconstitutional. However, the court also stated that the issue of when life begins, to address ethical concerns about abortion, would ultimately have to be determined by those in "medicine, philosophy and theology". This paper considers the ongoing and controversial abortion debate, looking at different theological and ethical perspectives as well as the medical perspective on the topic.
Abstract This paper addresses the ethical perception of abortion as presented in the article, "The Right of Abortion" by Harriet Pilpel. This article is considered one of the most important documents in this history of the ethical issues of abortion, as it was first published in June of 1969 and summarizes the rights of women to receive abortions. Other sources shall be consulted to support this argument.
Tags: CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LEGAL ISSUES, CENSORSHIP, POLICY / HUMAN RIGHTS, right women abortions
Abstract This paper discusses the question of whether or not a 15-year old girl, pregnant courtesy a rape committed by an unknown assailant, should abort the fetus or not. The paper also looks at whether or not the parents of the girl have an ethical obligation to counsel her against the abortion, an ethical obligation to counsel her to have the abortion, or whether they should simply stand aside and let the girl make up her own mind. The paper explains that in addressing this problematic subject, it is essential that some philosophical theories be introduced so as to offer an intellectual framework for the discussion and the paper then examines Kant's deontology (with its emphasis upon the categorical imperative) and the theory of utilitarianism espoused by Jeremy Bentham, John Stewart Mills and others (with its concomitant emphasis upon "proportionality"). In conclusion, the paper shows that a deontological approach to this problem is too inflexible and unyielding and that a better resolution is to apply a proportionality test which recognizes that the harm which would be done to the young girl if the child was brought to term outweighs the argument by others that abortion is unethical.
From the Paper "In the view of Erin Soros, the fetus arising from a rape becomes, at least for the woman or child who must bear it, a manifestation and reminder of the illegitimate desire of another. Additionally, the fetus is "a physical replacement for the part of herself that was lost through the trauma" (Soros, 1998, p.153). From an ethical stand-point, the woman's body has been violated by another and, to the extent that an abortion can heal the psychic wounds inflicted by rape, a woman is entirely within her prerogatives to demand that the product of sexual violence be excised from her being. For the young girl whose story lies at the heart of this paper, there is a utilitarian component to all of this; to wit, the suffering she would endure, and the displacement within her life which would result, from bringing the child to term outweighs whatever loss might be associated with aborting the fetus - at least that is Erin Soros' view."
