ABORTION

By: Ronald F. White, Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophy

College of Mount St. Joseph

Factors Influencing Debate

• Scientific Factors– Advancement Biological Science– Advancement in Technology

• Economic Factors

• Social Factors

• Political Factors

How to Argue About Abortion

• Legality of Abortion v. Morality of Abortion

• Morality of Abortion– Teleological Arguments

• Egoism-• Utilitarianism-

– Deontological Arguments• Divine Command• Rights-Based

Strategy 1. Arguments Concerning the Moral Status of the Fetus

• Persons and the Moral Universe– Persons and Property– Undoubted Persons and Undoubted Non-Persons

• Hard Cases: fetuses, comatose, animals • Descriptive Personhood (Scientific)

– Consciousness– Sentience– Self Awareness– Intelligence

• Prescriptive Personhood: (Legal or Moral) – Species Criterion– Potentiality Criterion– Graduated Potentiality– Actual Possession Criterion

Strategy 2: Utilitarian Arguments

• Social Costs and Benefits• Consequences for:

– Women– Men– Fetuses– Community– Health Care System– Welfare System

• Monitoring and Enforcement of Anti-Abortion Legislation (Black Markets)

Strategy 3. Rights-Based Arguments

• The Plugged in Violinist

• Beneficence and Non-Maleficence

• Voluntariness and Self-Defense– Rape – Incest– Save Life of Mother– Economic Reasons

Small Group Discussion Questions

• Are early abortions (during the first trimester) morally preferable to late abortions (during the second or third trimester)? Is infanticide ever morally justifiable?

• Is abortion ever morally justified? If so, under what conditions? Discuss the justifiability of each of of the following conditions

– Rape– Incest– Contraceptive Failure– Save the Life of the Mother– Save the Health of the Mother– Save the Economic Health of the Mother (or Family).– Severe Genetic Deformity of the Fetus: anencephaly, Tay Sach's Disease, Down Syndrome, – Multiple Births

• Which of the following legal restrictions on abortion are morally justifiable?– Parental Consent Laws-Should women under the age of 18 be required by law to present evidence that her

mother or father has given consent for an abortion?  – Spousal Consent Laws-Should married women be required by law to present evidence that her spouse has

been notified of a planned abortion? Should unmarried  women be required by law to present evidence that the father of the fetus has been informed?  

– Informed Consent Laws-  Should women be compelled by law to told specific information about abortion procedures beyond safety and effectiveness: fetal development etc.

– 24 Hour Waiting Period Laws- Should women be compelled by law to wait 24 hours after being provided abortion-related information?

– The Morning After Pill –Should it be legal? Prescription? Over-the-Counter, Over-18?