Assignment 8 Abortion Readings
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Assignment 8: Abortion Readings
Foundational Question:
Before you begin your reading assignment, based upon what you already know, including what
you have learned thus far this semester, do you agree or disagree with Abortion rights?
Are there
any limitations or exceptions to your stated position?
Based on what I already know I agree with abortion rights whether it be for medical necessity or
simply because the person is not ready to have a child. Limitations on my knowledge come from
the lack of sex education on the topic not knowing anyone who has had an abortion.
Reading Questions:
1.
What is the difference between “Pro-Life” and “Pro-Choice”? (p. 121) Do you think that
Pro-Choice means that one is advocating “for” abortions, or simply the right to choose?
Can you be “Pro-Life” and support the Death Penalty, which we will discuss later, in
another Assignment?
Pro-Life views abortion as immoral because they state the fetus is a human being and
therefore abortion is killing a person. Pro-Choice states that abortion should be legal. Pro-
Choice is not necessarily supporting abortion itself, it is supporting a woman’s right to
choose what she does with her body.
2.
What role does Autonomy play in the discussion of Abortion? (p. 121)
A woman’s right to decide what to do with her body.
3.
The Introduction asks a question about “how to determine if a creature has full moral
status,” and further stating, “…the proper moral question is not: Is it human? but Is it a
person?” Question:
What does the author say we should consider in determining if a
thing (including non-humans) is a person, and thus has “moral status”? (p. 121)
Intelligent, caring, sensitive beings.
4.
What does the author say about the role of “Humanity” (being human) as a proper
criterion for moral status? Do you agree? (p. 122)
Humanity is not the proper criterion for moral status, depriving of a valuable future is
what makes the murder of an adult immoral and it is the same for a fetus. I do not agree
because I do not think the criterion of “having a future” is valid. As said in the article, if
“having a future” is a factor then by that logic we shouldn’t kill animals.
5.
Does a things moral status override a woman’s right to autonomy? Is a fetus a “person”?
If we assume that we all have an inherent moral duty to NOT harm others, does a woman
have a duty not to harm a zygote or fetus? Are they “others” or persons? (p. 122)
Moral status does not override a woman’s right to autonomy. If you destroy a fetus you are
destroying something that would've become a child. They are considered others, not a person
yet.
Article – “A Defense of Abortion”
6.
Briefly explain the meaning of the story about the Violinist, as it relates to abortion, by
applying each of the four ethical theories. (p. 125) If the unwanted pregnancy occurs as a
result to rape, does this change the outcome of your analysis, using each theory? (p. 125)
Its 1 am I have no thought
?
7.
Does it change your analysis if you know that the woman will die, if she continues the
pregnancy? (p. 125)
No a woman has the right to terminate the pregnancy
8.
Do third-parties have a right to weigh in on the woman’s decision? (p. 126 -127)
Third parties do not have a right to weigh in since they are not carrying the child and most likely
not
provide financial or emotional support after the child is born.
9.
Does a fetus have a “right to use” a woman’s body? How does this reconcile with a
“property right” interest in the woman’s own body, and her supposed right to Autonomy?
(p. 127)
The fetus has no rights as it does not have autonomy.
Article – “An Argument that Abortion is Wrong”
10. What are the two classic syllogisms (logical reasoning) discussed, regarding the fetus’
right to life? (p. 142)?
Those who oppose abortion wish to find a criterion for fetuses fall inside it and those who
believe in abortion wish to find a narrow but plausible criterion for possession of the right to life
so that fetuses will fall outside of it.
11. Briefly explain the following arguments related to question #10 above:
a.
Science Argument (pp. 142-143)
Biological humans have the right to live
b.
Personhood Argument (p. 143, paragraph 2)
Only persons have the right to live
c.
Contract Argument (p. 143, paragraph 3)
Only persons capable of entering into a moral contract
d.
Public Policy Argument (p. 143, paragraph 4)
Abortion is wrong not because fetuses have the right to live but because society’s protection of
infants has social utility.
12. With regard to the reading, why is “killing” wrong? Who is primarily wronged by
killing? Why is premature death a misfortune? (pp. 143-145)
Hint: Read the summary
paragraph on the top of page 145.
An individuals future will be valuable o them if they could/would come to value it.
13. Briefly explain the “Arguments in Favor of Future Like Ours (FLO) theory.” Please
specifically address the following in your response: (pp. 145-146)
a.
Worst of Crimes Argument
Being killed deprives you of your future, good or bad.
b.
Appeal to Cases Argument
Killing is correct because it brings the correct answers to many life-and-death cases that arise in
medicine.
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c.
Who/what are the “Martians” that are discussed here? (p.146, paragraph 2)
Unborn fetuses
14. Please describe the “Replies to Objections” to the FLO theory? Do you agree? (pp. 147-
148)
a.
Potentiality Objections (p. 147)
A fetus has the potential to be in a state of a certain kind in the future
b.
Interests Arguments (p. 147)
Non-sentient fetuses do not meet the minimum conditions for having any moral standing eben
though they have FLOs.
c.
Problem with Equality (p. 148)
It is worse to kill someone younger because they are more deprived of a future then adults
d.
Contraception Objection (p. 148)
Contraception, abstention from sex when conception is possible, is immoral.
15. Please summarize the author’s ultimate conclusion. (p. 149)
The essay states abortion is wrong, and killing in general is wrong and why killing is regarded as
the worst crime. It provided insight to the ethics of abortion as well, however no appeal to
religion is mentioned.