exam 2 - thomson Flashcards
argument againsr abortion
5 premises; 1 conclusion
(1) fetus = person
(2) person has right to life
(3) fetus has right to life
(4) mother has right to bodily autonomy
(5) right to life > right to bodily autonomy
(c) abortion is impermissible
explanation of famous violinist example
- violinist dying from kidney failure
- you get kidnapped and are forced to give him your blood for 9 months
thomson’s response to the famous violinist example
you’re not morally required to stay plugged to the violinist—it’s supererogatory
what is the famous violinist case analogous for?
carrying a fetus to term
right to life
what thomson claims
right to life doesn’t mean someone else is required to sacrifice something for you to live
no one is allowed to TAKE your life
henry fonda example
he’s a man capable of healing with ease, but when he refuses to travel to CP or to even enter the room, he’s acting within his own rights
he’s not required to do anything to SAVE your life
responsibility objection
fetus has a right to use a woman’s body because she’s responsible for it being there
people-seeds example
as a response to the responsibility objection
- if people-seed enters your house, you’re responsible for it
- you take precaution and put up mesh screens
- a people-seed gets through and grows in your living room
thomson’s response to people-seeds example
the woman doesn’t bear responsibiliy if she used precaution
what is the people-seeds example analogous for?
contraceptive failure
faulty contraception
special bond objection
fetus does have a right to mother’s bosy because of special “mother-child” bond
thomson’s response to special bond objection
what kind of bond?
- not genetic (adoption)
- not emotional (fetus doesn’t have emotions)
there’s no bond
in which cases are abortions permissible?
thomson
- life threatening sitution
- rape
- faulty contraception
- contraceptive failure
