Abortion Flashcards
what is abortion
premature expulsion of a fetus from the womb
when does life begin
> 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
RC view on abortion
wrong, sin, sanctity of life, life begins at conception
Church of England view of abortion
lesser of two evils if raped or disabled
Jeremy Bentham on abortion
‘inalienable human rights is nonsense on stilts’, human rights made by humans.
Professor Jarvis Thomson
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
who follows the principle of personhood
peter singer, john harris, tooley, mary ann warren
Brenda Almond on abortion
example of Prince William
arguments for abortion
> 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
arguments against abortion
> 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
