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 ..."
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."
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.
An examination of Peter Singer's book "Writings on an Ethical Life" and his view on abortion. The paper explains that Peter Singer has been hailed as the most influential living philosopher and ethicist.
1,907 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 60.95
Abstract This paper focuses on Singer's application of the principle of utility to the ethics of abortion. The first part of the paper discusses how Singer refined the utilitarian principles popularly associated with Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill to his own principle of preference utilitarianism. The second part examines how Singer applies this preference utilitarianism to conclude that abortion is completely moral and ethical. The last section is a critical examination of Singer's utilitarian approach to abortion, as he articulates in the book "Writings on an Ethical Life."
From the Paper "Recognizing the difficulty of measuring pleasure or happiness, Singer instead proposes a principle of utility based on interests. He writes that "my own interests cannot, simply because they are my interests, count more than the interests of anyone else" (16). Instead of acting according to our own self-interests, Singer calls on people to take on a universal point of view. In essence, one's own interests and ideas matter only when seen in their consequence to everyone else's interests. Singer calls this view ?preference utilitarianism.?"
Abstract This essay provides a highly detailed analysis of the history of abortion from ancient times through present day. The origins of the Roman Catholic Church's opposition to abortion are fully discussed as are the social events of the late 1960's and early 1970's that eventually led to legalization of abortion procedures with the 1972 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. Following the historical analysis of the issue, both the pro-choice and the pro-life beliefs, and their foundations, are described in detail with supporting documentation and references. The essay concludes with pro-life supporting argument.
From the Paper "Abortion on demand is perhaps the most contentious issue ever faced by Americans and indeed the world. In the United States alone, approximately one in three pregnancies terminate in the abortion of the unborn child. This translates into approximately 1.5 million abortions each year. Translate the statistics to an international level and the number quickly rises to over 50 million. This data illustrates that abortion is a fact of life in modern times while at the same time presenting complex legal, political, and ethical issues by raising fundamental questions about the sanctity of life in general and the universal concern for human liberty. (Flanders 3) "
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 This papers looks at the moral complexities of abortion when performed on a woman rape victim. The paper examines how these complexities lead to conflicts -- within the individual, between doctors and patients, and within the wider medical community.
From the Paper "Without fail the issue of abortion elicits passionate reactions from virtually everyone who discusses it due the emotional personal nature of the subject. The philosophical questions that such a topic raises often strike at the very heart of one's religious..."
Tags:abortion, rape, pro-life, pro-choice, stem-cell, fetal rights, medical ethics
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 considers the impact of abortion on communities and examines how the issue acts as a divisive force in international communities. The paper looks at the various reasons why abortions are performed ranging from health, to rape, to incest, to economic reasons and gender selection.
From the Paper "Few issues have the ability to divide communities as much as abortion. An individual's personal opinion may be different than their political opinion-they may be against abortion in their own lives but support an individual's right to choose in the larger public sphere-and the issue is often a litmus test for candidates of both major political parties running for office. Abortion takes a medical practice and brings religious, moral ethical, economic and political considerations into the question and there can be..."
Abstract This paper discusses abortion, showing all the key themes and issues currently affecting it. The introduction defines terms necessary for the paper such as ?abortion?, "human life" and "human person" and gives a history of abortion from ancient until modern times. It then puts forward the arguments of "pro-life" and "pro-choice", focusing on two unusual case studies that turn upside-down commonly held views on when abortion is or is not appropriate - one supporting abortion (a mother who simply did not want a child at her life stage) and another opposing abortion (a woman who was born after her mother was raped). It attempts to show through these examples that it is possible to eloquently argue either for or against abortion but that ultimately it is impossible to determine whether abortion is "right" or "wrong" and that each case needs to be judged on its individual merits.
From the Paper "The Catholic Church also has inconsistencies regarding intra-uterine devices (IUD?s) and its funeral and burial services. Most people believe that IUD's interfere with the implantation of fertilized ovum in the uterine wall. If this is correct, it means that IUD's terminate development after conception and therefore after a human person has been formed. This means that, technically, approximately 43% of American women have had an abortion. There have also been burial services and funerals held by the Roman Catholic Church for aborted fetuses. However, this has not generally been the case as fetuses have not been considered full persons by the Church to the extent of being worthy of a formal requiem mass or formal burial service."
Abstract This paper discusses the issues of abortion and its moral and legal obligation and ramifications. It further assesses the issue of abortion based on certain factors ranging from consciousness of the fetus to the obligation of sustaining human life.
From the Paper "Many conservatives oppose abortion based on three premises: 1) Killing an innocent human being is wrong 2) Fetuses are innocent human beings 3) It is therefore wrong to kill a human fetus. By examining what 'human being' entails, it is clear that the definition comprises of two notions: "being a member of the species Homo sapiens, and being a person" (Singer 150). Homo sapiens are beings that have chromosomes that are the same as our own species. Persons on the other hand are a "rational and self conscious being" (87). The latter are those who are capable of acknowledging their own existence, while the former can be anything from a zygote to a one month old infant. Singer points out that those who believe fetuses are Homo sapiens and oppose abortion can be accused of 'speciesism'; which is a preference over another being based on species."
Abstract This paper begins with an overview on the definition of abortion. Second, the demographics of which groups of women have abortions are discussed. Finally, the reasons why a pro-choice stance on abortion is the correct stance is provided.
Outline:
Introduction
Abortion Defined
Who Has Abortions Support for the Pro-Choice Alternative
Pro-Choice and Instances of Rape Pro-Choice and Instances of Incest
Pro-Choice and Illegal and Unsafe Abortions Pro-Choice and Medically Risky Pregnancies
Pro-Choice and Poverty
Pro-Choice and Drug Abusers
Pro-Choice and a Woman's Right to Life, Liberty and Freedom
Pro-Choice and Both Sides of the Political Fence
Pro-Choice and Religious Freedom
Conclusion
From the Paper "It is the status of the fetus that appears to be at the center of the controversy. In the first trimester of pregnancy, an "embryo is clearly pre-human; only the mystical notions of religious dogma treat this clump of cells as constituting a person" (Peikoff). And, with this infliction of religious beliefs on others, as mentioned earlier, begins the slippery slope to infringing on others religious freedom."
Abstract This paper examines how, in "A Defense of Abortion," Judith Thomson argues that the assumption that a fetus has a right to life does not automatically imply that abortion is in all cases immoral. A person is not obligated to use her own body to sustain the life of another even if refusing would mean death for the other person, such as in the hypothetical case of a violinist that has been involuntarily attached to your kidneys in order to save his life. It also looks at how Thomson argues that the violinist is like a fetus that is the result of a rape, and the mother thus has no obligation to continue to sustain the life of the fetus, regardless of whether the fetus is a person and has a right to life.
From the Paper "Brody makes a distinction between not being obligated to save someone's life and being able to take their life. In the case of abortion, while it is true that the mother is not obligated to sustain the life of the fetus, it is not morally permissible for her to kill it either. However, since there is no way for a person to not save a fetus without also killing it, I fail to see the logic in making this distinction. In either case, the fetus, and the violinist, are dead; whether you look at it as not saving a life or actually taking a life is irrelevant. I agree that in many cases the two are distinct and should definitely be treated differently, but in the case of abortion the distinction is meaningless. "
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."
