...Abortion - An ethical issue. The issue of abortion is one that has been dealt with intense fervor, contention and scrutiny over the years, often emerging as the epicenter of moral, legal, civil and political battles. At the heart of this dichotomous issue is a fundamental disagreement on the morality of abortion, the right to individual freedom and a theological disposition manifesting in a collusion of the separation of church and state. This essay attempts to throw light on the moral and social imperative - a cornerstone of most anti-abortionist arguments as well as reproductive freedom, a thought central to the pro-abortionist defence. The term ‘abortion’ refers to the act of willful termination of pregnancy resulting in the removal of a foetus. The methods of abortion are varied and address the termination of pregnancy at differing stages of foetal development. While emergency contraceptives and abortion inducing drugs target removal of embryos at early stages, surgical means of foetal removal are called into play during late term abortions. Traditionally, there has been a vehement opposition to later term abortions and has drawn strong parallels of murder. However, in more recent times drug induced abortions have drawn the ire of those opposing abortion in any and all forms. Anti abortion or “pro-life” advocates oppose abortion as they deem it an immoral act. The moral debate on abortion draws from two distinct premises. On one hand is the question of whether a human...
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...Abortion is a huge topic of debate in the United States and in the world. In the United States, the majority of the members of the Democratic Party are pro choice, meaning they are for abortion, while the majority of the members of the Republican Party are pro life, meaning they are against abortions. In the United States, abortions are legal, but everyday there are people working to stop them. Abortions are still illegal in many developing countries and women die from unsafe abortions every day. There are many valid arguments on both sides of the debate, such as the fetus being a human vs. women-having control over their own bodies. Scientific research has been conducted for both sides of the argument, and both sides will say that the research...
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...One of the most controversial issues present in today’s society is abortion. Abortion is the termination of a fetus done purposely to prevent the birth of a child. Since abortions are now easier, less dangerous and more accessible than they once were; they have become the target of debate in every aspect of our lives. The issue of abortion has caused many heated debates in politics, religion and society in general; yet both sides seem to only see one side of the picture and avoid the issue as whole. One way of examining whether abortion is right or wrong is to look at whether or not the fetus is a person or not. This evaluation is done by Mary Anne Warren, in which she determines a set of criteria that both pro-abortionists and anti-abortionists can agree upon. Warren states that in order to be considered a fetus must: “have consciousness of objects and events, reasoning, self-motivated activity, capacity to communicate and the presence of self-concept and self-awareness.” Using these criteria, Warren determines that the fetus has not reached personhood and therefore, is not guaranteed the right to life. Thus, she believes that at least until birth the fetus has no moral status and a lacks a right to life. Warren’s argument may seem a bit flawed because her criteria do not provide a clear-cut way to distinguish between the fetuses in the stages of pregnancy or perhaps even the infant himself. According to her criteria, a newborn infant would not have a significant right to...
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...Abortion, Bioethics, and Personhood: A Philosophical Reflection Post Date: 11/19/2001 Bioethics Human Dignity Author: Francis J. Beckwith, PhD Abortion is the issue that first brought evangelical Christians and other cultural conservatives into the arena of bioethics. Although today bioethics is dominated by other issues that are perceived as more pressing, the answer to the philosophical question lurking behind abortion--Who and what are we?--turns out to be the key that unlocks the ethical quandaries posed by these other issues. After all, if human persons ought not to be either subjects of research or killed without justification, and if the fetus from conception is a human person,1 then embryo experimentation, abortion, and cloning2 are prima facie morally wrong. However, some bioethicists have attempted to deal with the issue of human personhood by either sidestepping it or making a distinction between human beings and human persons, putting the fetus in the former category but not the latter. In this paper I will address both attempts. Sidestepping the Issue: The Failure of Neutrality Some bioethicists seek to sidestep the question of personhood by suggesting a neutral posture toward it. They maintain that bioethical decisions can be made apart from answering this question. Take, for example, the 1994 recommendations of the National Institutes of Health Embryo Research Panel, a body consisting of bioethicists across many disciplines including philosophy, theology...
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...reference to the topic you have investigated The term personhood is often used to describe the point when life becomes an individual human that is entitled to rights. A person is a being that has certain qualities or abilities establishing personhood, which is otherwise defined by different authors in different scriptures and by different cultures. For a person to have rights means that they have a voice. Abortion is a controversial subject and to this day is still argued on whether or not it’s morally right to terminate pregnancy. Some people believe that abortion is right if the mother’s life is at risk or if there is a range of circumstance like the foetus becoming handicapped and others claim that it isn’t morally right no matter the situation because the bible forbids murder ‘Thou shalt not kill’ (10 commandments). Majority of people strongly agree that it is wrong to kill a person which is usually called a murder/homicide. Though others that oppose abortion generally try to argue that the foetus/embryo is in fact a human person. But how can one decide if human life is the same as a human person or in fact a human at all? Well a human is thought to be a man, woman, or child of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished from other animals by superior mental development, power of coherent speech, and upright posture. A person is an individual with a personality. Human life is simply a sperm and egg. If people feel as if abortion is wrong, then they will feel like a foetus should...
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...Abortion has become one of the biggest taboos of all times. Many people believe it is immoral and even consider it to be murder. The definition of abortion is; “The termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to being capable of normal growth.” Many pro-life advocates would argue that as soon as the egg in the uterus is fertilized there is a new human life. Though science has no consensus on when a fetus is truly a person. If you go off the bases of the fact that since that zygote has the potential of being a human and that’s why it would be considered murder, then you’re forced to think about all the sperm and eggs that didn’t become human, but had the potential to. A zygote...
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...Abortion Ethics and Abortion Since 1973 when the U.S. Supreme Court made the decision that abortion was legal, abortion has been one of the most controversial ethical issues in our society. For many years there have been a lot of debates about whether it is morally and ethically right to have abortions. No one takes the issue of abortion lightly due to the fact that there are so many people with different perspectives on abortion and how it should be handled. Just because individuals see abortion one way others see it another. Religion, definition of abortion, pro-choice, pro-life, moral personhood, rape, and rights are things that will be discussed. Abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion). An abortion that is terminated on the sole fact that it becomes a threat to the pregnant female is referred to as a therapeutic abortion. An elective abortion is a term used for any other kind of abortion not related to health reasons. Most people relate a miscarriage as a form of abortion, but for myself I don’t really see how a miscarriage is related. The pregnant female doesn’t have a choice in a miscarriage, but only has a choice in an induced abortion or any type. Abortion can be traced back as to ancient times. Evidence suggests that abortions were taking place in a number of different ways, from herbs to abdominal pressure....
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...Innocence Controversial, pro-choice, and pro-life. What do these have in common? Abortion. Abortion is a matter of plain, objective science. Embyros and fetuses are fully and individually human from the point of fertilization. If this were not true, and if unborn children were not genetically-distinct human beings, there would be no need to even talk about rights of personhood. Removing a fetus would be the equivalent of pulling a tooth, however, this is not the case and the debate must be a part of the political arena. Humans should be recognized as persons under the law. Humans are considered a person, if by nature, they have the capacity to develop the ability to think rationally, express emotion, and make decisions. Since humans have personal natures, they are considered a person. The humanity of unborn children qualifies them as persons and should be guaranteed their protection under the law. The choice should not be to keep or abort the baby, the choice should be to keep or give away the baby. Abortion clinics should be changed to adoption clinics. Abortion is a tragedy, not only for the unborn who never got the chance to experience life, but for the mother also. Millions of young and frightened mothers have been pressured to choose abortion to help men escape the responsibility and embarrassment. Fifty-one percent of Americans consider themselves "pro-life" about the issue of abortion, while forty-two percent are "pro-choice." Many people, including those who want...
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...history over abortion. Abortion is one of the most sensitive issues occurring all through the early history of the world. Abortion did not only effect the poor, it was also seen throughout all society and cultures. The procedures were all different in how they were performed, depending on the level of care available to the practices. Different societies shunned this practice and women began seeking any means possible. People all around the world had strong opinions on this subject, which have been constantly changing. In 1982, ten to 18 percent of the world’s population resided where the procedure of abortion was illegal. If abortion was legal for restrictive use only, it should be used when the mother’s life is in danger. Surveys done by the United States National Library of Medicine during 1965 showed great change in the attitude toward abortion. The public was accepting the pregnancy termination. Roe vs. Wade was one of the most important points in the history of abortion. This Supreme Court Case decision made in 1973 legalized abortion. Recent polls show little change in public opinion since 1972-1973. Over eighty to ninety percent of Americans are for abortions for mothers in poor health, rape, defective fetus and forty to fifty percent approve for other reasons. Ten percent of Americans want abortion to be illegal for any reason. These people are made up of religions and fundamentalist. In the editorial Human Rights Watch the group of people for abortion Pro-choice...
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...Most common in the first-trimester, medical abortions are those induced by pharmaceuticals. They can cost up to $800, but they usually end up being less than that because the total cost is dependent on how many additional tests the patient decides to have done. The most common medicine used to induce an abortion is called mifepristone. This specific pill is said to be very effective and has a success rate of 97 out of 100. Abortion pills can be found at clinics, and they are usually accompanied by antibiotics. The first abortion pill, mifepristone, works to block the hormone, progesterone. Without this specific hormone, the lining of the uterus breaks down so the pregnancy is unable to continue. Next, a medicine called misoprostal is taken...
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...The Standard Formula of an Article in Applied Ethics Although philosophical articles can vary widely in their structure and writing style, most credible articles in applied ethics follow a predictable formula. In this conception of that formula, applied ethics articles can typically be broken into five distinct components: 1. Introduction to the case the author wishes to analyze The introduction usually features a brief overview of the issue and a quick recap of the relevant literature on the subject. If the article is a response to a different view on the same case, the other view will be presented and explained before the author presents his or her own view. Optionally, the author may raise objections to other views on the subject before presenting his or her own view. 2. Proposal of a theory (or principle) which can be used to analyze the case All case analyses must have some theoretical framework on which they are based. Without a framework that illustrates clear behavior-guiding principles, any case analysis will lack compelling support and risk incoherence. 3. Critical analysis of the theory and explanation of why it is superior to alternative theories or principles If the theory has unacceptable flaws, then any case analysis based on that theory or principle will inherit related flaws. Consequently, the author must defend the theory against opposing viewpoints by offering supporting arguments and responding to objections. Any mysterious or puzzling concepts must also be...
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...Perfectionist/Prudential Debate on Abortion [Name of Writer] [Name of Institute] Perfectionist/Prudential Debate on Abortion George Carlin - Pro-Life is Anti-Woman There are several different views on abortion, but no matter how one looks at it there will always be disagreement among people on whether it should be legal or not. Some people view it as negative strictly based on their religious beliefs, while others view it as negative strictly on their morals beliefs that abortion kills an unborn human. Prochoice individuals believe that a woman has the right to decide what to do with her own body. Many of their arguments begin with the idea that if a woman is raped she has the right to abort the pregnancy because it could traumatize her even more. Some women use abortion as a form of birth control and feel that it is their right to do so. No matter how one looks at abortion, it will always be a topic of extreme disagreement among people. According to the video, people who take a pro-life stance on abortion are people who are against abortion. These people strongly believe that the life of an unborn fetus is just as important as the life of the mother. Many pro-lifers feel it is their responsibility to be a voice for the unborn child. Women should be educated on all of the issues they may face physically as a result of abortion. Abortion can be a life altering event for the mother even after the death of the fetus. Another issue of importance is the negative...
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...Wellington College, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Religious Studies AS Level Edexcel Unit 2: Investigations Abortion A study guide and anthology Contents Introduction A modern controversy: the case of George Tiller (BBC) p. 3 Definitions and technical language p. 6 Methods used p. 7 Family Planning Association fact sheet p. 8 Religion and the Sanctity of Life The Sanctity of Life p. 12 A critique of the Sanctity of Life: Jonathan Glover p. 14 Christian perspectives: Methodists and Catholics p. 16 ‘Ensoulment’, soul, and the sacredness of life p. 18 Religious views in conflict: liberalism and conservatism p. 19 Philosophical Problems in Abortion An argument against abortion p. 20 Personhood p. 21 A ‘person’ as rational and self-conscious: Peter Singer p. 24 Moral rights: the foetus and the mother p. 26 A woman’s right to an abortion: Judith Jarvis Thomson p. 28 ‘Why abortion is immoral’: Don Marquis p. 29 Anthology of Texts Unit 2 model answers: ethics (Edexcel) ‘Why abortion challenges us all’: Rowan Williams ‘Contraception and abortion within Protestant Christianity’: Gloria Albrecht ‘Virtue theory and abortion’: Rosalind Hursthouse Appendix: sample exam questions and level descriptors Notes Pages A Modern Controversy: the Case of George Tiller Profile: George Tiller (2009) To some anti-abortionists George Tiller, who...
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...The Black and White of Abortion Abortion is arguably the most controversial issue that exists today. Abortion is a religious matter, questioning the humanity of a fetus and if one has the right to kill it. This issue also causes disagreement between men and women, and whether women have the right to bodily autonomy. Furthermore, abortion questions which right is stronger, the right to bodily autonomy or the right to life. Mary Anne Warren and Judith Jarvis Thomson have similar stances on the issue, although both claim to be pro-choice. Thomson, through the famous violinist example, argues women have the right to bodily autonomy, which is stronger than a fetus’s right to life. Warren, on the other hand, states fetuses are not persons because they do not attribute the five-personhood traits. In this paper I will agree and disagree with both philosophers, to a certain extent. Two central issues surround abortion. First, is it permissible to kill a potential human being? Most Christians believe that at the moment of conception, a human life is created. Other people believe a fetus is not a person until after the period of time when it becomes illegal to have an abortion, typically after five months. Judith Jarvis Thomson is pro-choice. She believes the woman’s right to bodily autonomy is stronger than a fetus’s right to life, and proves so through the famous violinist example. She believes a person does not have a moral obligation to stay connected to the famous violinist...
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...Abortion is a widely controversial topic, which can be viewed from many different perspectives and moral theories. I will primarily concentrate on Judith Thomson’s view of defending abortion and provide further insight on her stance as it pertains to Sarah’s case. As well, I will also approach Sarah’ case from Susan Sherwin’s perspective and input aspects of my own opinions to support Sherwin’s argument. Judith Thomson claims in her article that women should have the right to choose to having an abortion under the assumption that personhood begins at the moment of conception (Thomson, 152). Common arguments for abortion come from the idea that personhood does not begin right at conception, but rather at a later point in the pregnancy and thus, abortion is acceptable because personhood has not officially started. Thomson acknowledges that a fetus becomes a person before birth because it acquires human characteristics (i.e. it has a face, arms, legs, fingers, and brain activity). However, Thomson’s perspective also emphasizes that the mother has the right to decide what happens to her body. The basic argument is that the fetus is also a person, and has the right to live as a person, which outweighs that of the mother’s decision of what happens to her body (Thomson, 152). Consequently, Thomson convincingly argues that there are special cases in which the mother’s decision to what happens to her body is greater than the fetus’ right to live and thus, an abortion is permissible...
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