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Evaluate a Utilitarian Approach to Abortion (10 Marks)

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Evaluate a utilitarian approach to abortion (10 marks)

Bentham said: ‘An act is right if it delivers more pleasure than pain and wrong if it brings about more pain than pleasure.’ This states that abortion is ethical to conduct as it gives greater happiness to the greater amount of people. Bentham’s theory will support the act of abortion. The hedonistic approach to utilitarianism is concerned with the balance of pleasure and pain. Therefore, it is concerned with the amounts of pleasure and pain in situations such as abortion.

An Act utilitarian will support abortion depending on the situation and if it benefits a higher number of people. Bentham is an Act utilitarian. According to his theory the majority will receive pleasure through the abortion of an unborn. The pregnant women might have conceived the unborn by an accident. If the woman and her family are financially broken she will choose not to keep the child. This will lead them to take a decision to abort the unborn. This will not make the financial system better for the family however it will decrease the amount of materials they would need to spend for another person, allowing them to save some money. This will lead them to take a decision to abort the unborn child. Even though it is not acceptable to abort a child Bentham’s theory can be used to support this act. Majority will benefit from this abortion. However, utilitarianism advocates injustice as the innocent is unjustly framed. Minority is not considered although they are still humans. They have to go through pain even though they are innocent. However, any sufferings involved in the abortion procedure can be avoided through aborting the foetus as soon as possible rather than aborting it after it has been developed further.

Rule utilitarian’s believe that rules should be formed using utilitarian principles for the benefit of society. They suggest that an action is judged right or wrong by the goodness or badness of the consequences of a rule that everyone should follow in similar circumstances. These Utilitarian’s will consider abortion in a larger scale. They would look at its effect on community. A country can have high population growth with a decrease in economic state. In this situation utilitarian will favour abortion. This is because it will decrease the population rate and therefore leading to a stable economic state. Consequently, it can increase in the happiness for greater number of people.

On the other hand, utilitarian view can be contrasted with the idea of sanctity of life. It is unethical to see life unvalued. Every life is important without any exception of not being born. As the foetus is developing in the womb it is precious. In nine months a baby is fully formed in mother’s womb. This shows the high growth rate of a foetus. Utilitarian ignores the pain suffered by the baby that might have been partially developed while it is being aborted. The foetus has its right as it is also living and breathing but with the help of mother. The financial problem or other difficulties should not be a reason for the abortion of the foetus as it is also living. If the mother has been raped or has financial problem looking after the newborn they are able to do more to sustain the life. It is better to put the child for adoption. This will give the greater number of happiness as they will be providing a childless couple with a child who they can care for and look after. The foetus will be given greater number of happiness as it will not be aborted. It will go to a better family that is more capable of raising it. Moreover, this gives happiness to the mother as she will know that her child is living in a better condition than its own family.

Overall, I believe abortion is unethical. It is better to give child for adoption as it gives greater happiness for greater number of people.

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