Abortion (2)
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Arizona State University *
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47353
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Philosophy
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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docx
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6
Uploaded by LieutenantOxideViper16
1
Abortion
Izabella Byrd-Brown
Institutional Affiliation
Course
According to ethical egoism, each individual should act in their own best interests. (Rachels
2
& Rachels, 2015, p. 77) From this perspective, if getting an abortion will help a woman achieve
her goals and live a happy and fulfilling life, then ethical egoism supports the decision to have an
abortion. This is because, ultimately, each person is responsible for his or her own well-being
and happiness
.
The ethical egoist would defend the pregnant woman’s opinions. If she believes that having
an abortion would be better for her, then the ethical egoist will be pro-abortion. If she believes
that carrying the baby to term and raising it would be better for her, then the ethical egoist will be
anti-abortion. This is because, according to ethical egoism, the only thing that matters are what is
in the best interest of the individual (Rachels & Rachels, 2015, p. 77). And, in this case, the
individual is the one who is carrying the fetus and who will be most affected by the decision to
have an abortion. This means they do not necessarily advocate for abortion, but rather that they
would see it as the individual's decision to make (Rachels & Rachels, 2015, p. 78
There are many different ways an ethical egoist can justify their moral position, but one common
argument is that each individual should be free to make their own decisions about their body and
their life, and that abortion is a personal decision that should be made by the individual woman
based on her own circumstances. Another argument is that, since abortion is ultimately about the
woman's right to control her own body, it is ultimately her own decision to make and no one else
has the right to tell her what she can or cannot do with it. This position is based on the belief that
individuals should act in their own self-interest since doing so is the surest path to fulfillment and
happiness in life. (Rachels & Rachels, 2015, p. 78
(
There is definitely a conflict between loyalty to an ethical egoist and loyalty to the
community when it comes to abortion. Ethical egoists believe that individuals should do what is
in their own best interest, even if it goes against the interests of the community (Rachels &
3
Rachels, 2015, p. 79). On the other hand, community members often believe that everyone
should work together for the common good, even if it means sacrificing their own interests
.
When it comes to abortion, ethical egoists would argue that a woman should be able to do
what she believes is best for herself, even if that means having an abortion. They would say that
she should not be forced to have a child against her will, even if the community disapproves of
her decision. On the other hand, community members would argue that a woman should not have
an abortion unless it is absolutely necessary because it goes against the interests of the
community as a whole. In this case, the best course of action would probably be to respect the
woman's right to make her own decisions about her body while also trying to convince her to
consider the wider implications of prioritizing one's own happiness over that of others
.
According to the Social Contract Ethics, which derives from this idea, people ought to
act
in accordance with the
norms and standards established by society since they
represent ethical
contracts. In the case of abortion, the social contract ethicist would say that the state has a duty to
protect the rights of the unborn child and that the child has a right to life. On the contrary, society
also has the responsibility to protect a woman’s rights to choose and free will
.
The Social Contract Ethicist is likely to adopt the position claiming that abortion is immoral
Abortion, from the perspective of the social contract ethicist, is immoral because it undermines
the compact between individuals and society. The rights and duties of members of a society are
laid down in the social contract. This agreement is the basis for the government and the laws that
govern society (Rachels & Rachels, 2015, p. 144). One of the key provisions of the social
contract is the right to life. This means that individuals have a right to live and to not have their
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4
lives taken away from them without due process. Abortion, according to the social contract
ethicist's logic, is incompatible with the right to life because it involves the unjustified
termination of a human life. For this reason, the social contract ethicist would consider abortion
immoral
.
Abortion is a contentious issue because it brings individual and societal responsibilities into
conflict. On a personal level, many individuals feel a strong moral obligation to protect the life of
the unborn child. They may believe that abortion is murder and that it is their duty to defend the
innocent. On the other hand, some individuals may feel that they have a personal obligation to
respect a woman's right to choose what to do with her body. They may believe that abortion is a
private matter, and that the government should not be involved
.
On a national level, there is a collision between the obligation to protect the lives of the
unborn and the obligation to respect the rights of women. The government must decide whether
to outlaw abortion altogether or allow it in certain circumstances. There is no easy answer, and
both sides have valid points. The wisest course of action, in my opinion, is to respect women's
autonomy in matters of the body. On the other hand, I believe it is crucial to empower women
with knowledge and tools so that they may make informed choices
.
Based on Opinion 4.2.7 of the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, physicians are permitted to
engage in medical activities, such as abortion, so long as they do not violate any laws or depart
from ethical norms (American Medical Association, 2017).The International Council of Nurses
(ACN) policy statement states that a nurse may refuse to participate or request an exception from
participation in interventions that threaten a person’s sense of moral integrity, such as abortion
5
(International Council of Nurses, 2021, p. 25). However, if the patient's life is at risk, the nurse
has a duty to take immediate action and provide optimal healthcare. Given the sensitive nature of
the subject matter at hand, abortion, a conflict involving professionalism and family obligations
may occur for some
.
6
References
American Medical Association. (2017).
AMA Principles of Medical Ethics
. American Medical
Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/about/publications-newsletters/ama-principles-
medical-ethics
International Council of Nurses. (2021).
The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses
.
https://www.icn.ch/system/files/2021-10/ICN_Code-of-Ethics_EN_Web_0.pdf
Rachels, S., & Rachels, J. (2015).
The elements of moral philosophy
. New York, Ny Mcgraw-
Hill Education
.
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