Ethical views on Abortion

Question 1

What is abortion?

Answer 1

the termination of a pregnancy, resulting in the death of a foetus/embryo

Question 2

How do Natural Moral Law view abortion?

Answer 2

• clashes with the primary precepts of preservation of life and reproduction
• doctrine of double effect: catholic church says abortion is permissible in special circumstances such as the mothers life’s’ at risk and the abortion is an unintended side effect

Question 3

How does Situation ethics view abortion?

Answer 3

• Fletcher says that the interests of an actual person always takes priority over an embryo
• Fletcher stated “no unwanted child should be born”
• Angel of Auschwitz example, a doctor who performed multiple abortions on Jewish women during the holocaust to save the babies from the gas chambers

Question 4

How does Virtue ethics view abortion?

Answer 4

• Aristotle said not to have more children than you are capable of caring for, so abortion can occur in this instance
• HOWEVER he emphasises this happen “before sense and life have begun”
• so a foetus gestating during the trimester has more value than a collection of cells
• depends on intention; if a woman wants an abortion due to appearance change this would be immoral