Abortion

Question 1

what is abortion

Answer 1

premature expulsion of a fetus from the womb

Question 2

when does life begin

Answer 2

> conception - 42% of embryos naturally abort before 14 days
quickening- when you feel it move
viability- 24 weeks under UK law
birth
personhood- conciousness, ability to feel pain, to reason, self-aware, sentient

Question 3

RC view on abortion

Answer 3

wrong, sin, sanctity of life, life begins at conception

Question 4

Church of England view of abortion

Answer 4

lesser of two evils if raped or disabled

Question 5

Jeremy Bentham on abortion

Answer 5

‘inalienable human rights is nonsense on stilts’, human rights made by humans.

Question 6

Professor Jarvis Thomson

Answer 6

fetus is person but not part of mother
(1) differences between right, duty + responsibility.
(2) Right to abortion as owns fetus
(3) doesn’t take contraception then less responsible therefore less entitled.
>Burglar Example

Question 7

who follows the principle of personhood

Answer 7

peter singer, john harris, tooley, mary ann warren

Question 8

Brenda Almond on abortion

Answer 8

example of Prince William

Question 9

arguments for abortion

Answer 9

> Own bodies, fetus is a part of the woman’s body
Women’s right, own body. No-one else’s business
Risk to health- 89% occur due to this clause
If the child threatens the mothers life
Not consensual, crime
Quality of life, abortion act, CofE agree
Laws will always be broken- ‘back street abortions’
Zygote could duplicate, 42% abort naturally
Lacks rights. Acorn Vs oak tree
Personhood
Birth=life
E.g. 1 child policy
Stop overpopulation
‘Christians need to face frankly that in an imperfect world the right choice is sometimes the acceptance of a lesser of two evils’
RC accept proportionalism in Just War
Men have sexual liberty, women do not get same treatment
Dr.J.Parsons says its not possible for another 170,000 babies to be put up for adoption

Question 10

arguments against abortion

Answer 10

> Holds a unique genetic code
Can’t be private as it’s taking a life. Violation on humanity
Society for the protection of the unborn child claim its subjective
Fetus’ life is sacred to, what about its self-defense
One sin does not justify another sin.
All life in image of God, discrimination, allow killing of baby born with problems? Can live normal lives?
Deontogical lives protect humans
‘From the time the ovum is fertilized…’
Speciest will develop into human
Justify infanticide?
J.Glover- what about a transparent womb? Can be written into will
Does not justify intrinsic evil
Contraception
One conception occurs it should be left
Guilt
Right to abortion mean sexual responsibility
Alternative