Abortion: applying theories

1. � Michael Lacewing Abortion: applying theories Michael Lacewing enquiries@alevelphilosophy.co.uk

2. Arguing about abortion Most of the argument focuses on the moral status of the foetus: does it have a right to life? This is a deontological approach. Our first question: why think human beings have a right to life?

3. The soul and the sanctity of life If people have souls, when does the soul and body come together? Traditional Catholic doctrine: at conception - so the embryo is sacred, as all human life is, straight away But: Two-thirds of embryos spontaneously aborted Some forms of contraception, including some forms of the pill, do not prevent conception, but prevent the embryo implanting in the uterus wall Until 14 days old, the embryo may split into two, becoming identical twins - one soul or two?

4. Sanctity and the right to life So are embryos/foetuses sacred? Do they have a right to life? Are these two questions the same? Why do human beings have a right to life? Is it something that distinguishes us from animals? Soul Reason Language Emotional experience Morality Just �being human�

5. Dividing people up Apart from souls and �being human�, all other criteria are possessed by some human beings and not others, e.g. severe mental disability, senile dementia, permanent vegetative state Yet we don�t think it is permissible to kill them for the benefit of others Sentience: primitive consciousness of perception, pleasure, pain This begins around 20 weeks, so foetuses before 20 weeks don�t have right to life. Many animals are sentient - do they have a right to life?

6. The argument from potential Foetuses are have a right to life because they will become a person with a right to life if allowed to develop But: Sperm and egg prior to conception have this potential, if allowed to conjoin Does potential matter? A student, who has the potential to become a teacher, is not put in charge of lessons until trained as a teacher; you can�t spend money you don�t have yet

7. The right to choose Even if the foetus doesn�t have a right to life, it might be wrong to kill it. But: people have a right to do what they want with their bodies. Until it can survive outside her body, the foetus is part of the woman�s body Even if the foetus does have a right to life, the right to choose may take precedence.

8. Act utilitarianism The right thing to do is what will cause the greatest balance of happiness over pain. Importance of pleasure and pain - suggests sentience is right criterion for moral importance Since the feotus can�t feel pleasure or pain, does it not count at all? Or because, if it developed into a child, it would, should we count its future experiences (consequences)? Though we can�t tell exactly what these are, we normally prefer being alive to not being alive.

9. Virtue theory The discussion seems to treat women as containers for a foetus, rather than creators of life. The meaning of pregnancy in human life, and of abortion, haven�t been discussed. To think the foetus doesn�t matter is callous: Even if the answer is that abortion is morally permissible, it would be wrong to do so lightly and without due consideration The life the woman is leading and her reasons for choosing abortion are central. Each case must be judged individually.