Abortion: Issues on Moral Status
Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in both the social and political arena today. The two main arguments for and against the issue is based upon whether the unborn fetus can be seen as human or not, and whether this humanity can be compared to the humanity of the mother. It should also be recognized however that the abortion issue has many more subtle issues that are attached. A person who has been raped and falls pregnant as a result, for example, could not be seen in the same light as a person who had consensual sex without some form of protection. Also, a mother whose life is endangered by the pregnancy, or a baby whose quality of life will be severely impeded by deformity are also considered as cases in which abortion is more permissible than in the case of a problem free pregnancy. In considering the moral status of the fetus, one should therefore also consider additional problematic factors, such as rape, particularly. While I therefore do believe that the moral status of the unborn child is a primarily important factor in the abortion issue, I also believe that this should only be applied in cases where the pregnancy is normal and free from outside issues such as violence or rape.
I am much more inclined to accept Marquis' explanation of moral status than those of Thomson and Tooley. I agree with this to some extent, but there are certain external factors that Marquis is not keeping in mind. According to this author, the abortion of an unwanted baby can be justified in terms of the mother having the primary right as the owner of her body. In contrast to Marquis, who ascribes humanity to the baby at conception, Thomson's argument holds that the unborn baby has neither moral status nor right to life if the mother chooses it not to be born. Marquis takes the argument of moral status further by introducing the concept of the "Future Like Ours" (FLO). Indeed, these directly influence the same elements for the child. This profoundly affects the mother, even though the baby still has the expectation of an FLO, and even though the pregnancy holds no danger for either child or mother. consider is also how the phrase "moral status" is defined. According to Thomson then, the basic justification for abortion is the fact that the baby cannot be seen as a person with rights, because he or she did not choose to be conceived, and nor did the parents involved in unwanted pregnancies. Firstly, it appears that Marquis does not approve of abortion even if the baby was conceived by violent events such as rape. If the baby were for example to expect an FLO, but the life of the mother would be in danger if the baby were to be carried and delivered after the pregnancy term, it appears that Marquis still opposes abortion on the grounds of the expected FLO for the baby, but not for the mother. Thomson's view that an unwanted baby, even if in good health and conceived by consensual sex, is some sort of "invader" with implied malicious intent also does not strike me as a very strong argument. The author uses the birth event as a demonstration: a baby just before and just after birth is equally human, having changed only its location. The author goes on to terrible examples of torture and killing, attempting to prove that it is more wrong to torture than kill a kitten or a newborn baby.
Common topics in this essay:
Tooley Tooley,
Ours FLO,
,
Thomson Tooley,
According Thomson,
moral status,
moral status baby,
believe moral status,
moral status unborn,
believe moral,
life mother,
abortion issue,
unborn child,
status unborn,
consensual sex,
status baby,
continue living,
believes moral status,
unwanted baby,
|
Acceptance Essays
