M3 reading objectives

Question 1

“the premise” of most anti-abortion arguments

Answer 1

life begins at conception

Question 2

thomson- What is the key point argued in each section?

Answer 2

1) self defense argument- women are people and have the right of self defense from a threat
2) third part intervention- this is not a 1:1 right to life- woman has right to sustain life (body)
3) right to life does not necessarily justify violation of bodily autonomy (violinist)
4) has the woman assumed responsibility? NO- risk does not assume responsibility (burglarville)
5) “you should” as aretaic vs deontic - aretaic= virtues and worst is shame… deontic= obligation… worst that can happen is social repercussions, cannot force duty upon another for virtue
6) no one is required to be virtuous

Question 3

When would responsibility to the fetus/infant attach for the parents

Answer 3

morally impermissible when relationship has shifted from fetus-woman to mother-child

Question 4

What are the two possible objections and Thomson’s response to those objections

Answer 4

1- PL= there are some exceptions of permissibility (timeline)
2- if child were viable, forcing women to give up children in adoption vs not giving right to body.. coercion is greater evil than abortion

Question 5

“the standard view”

Answer 5

human life is valuable because it’s human life

Question 6

problem with the pro-life argument based on the standard view?

Answer 6

• based in THE good- virtue ethics- fetus = potential life
  problems: 1) contraception would be murder (sex cells as potential for life)
  2) PVS (couldn’t alleviate the pain here)
  3) brain death (too many definitions)
  4) biblical (only refers to abortion of prophets, and must then accept all archaic rules)
  5) alien life (permissible to kill bc not human?)

Question 7

future of value

Answer 7

future of value of new life solves prob of std killing for pro life
-q= who judges

Question 8

3 points FOR pharm right to object

Answer 8

professional judgement (med management)
employment discrimination (infringing on morals)
freedom of democracies with conscientious objection

Question 9

4 points against pharm right to object

Answer 9

fiduciary role (patient first)
EC is not abortifacient
patient impact is huge
potential for abuse (pharm don’t know patient history)

Question 10

middle way- cantor and Baum argument

Answer 10

need to have alternative solutions- right to refuse must be balanced with reasonable accommodation for care

Question 11

2 main problems with enforcing gestational responsibility on the mother

Answer 11

• how do you prove causality

- how do you enforce gestational responsibility

Question 12

problems with mother-fetus conflict model

Answer 12

the fetus is placed above the mother in a hierarchy in the model- technology has separated the mom and child as two separate patients (no longer united- now in conflict)

Question 13

Hornstra’s recommendation for fetal rights

Answer 13

must looks at MF conflict and mother having autonomy instead of 100% responsible for fetus- circumstantial and environment factors must also be considered

Question 14

confusions with procreative liberty

Answer 14

• PL giving contextual norm to ethical analysis- decision to get pregnant isn’t the same as what kind of family to have
• PL thinking one logical conc applies to all (marriage analogy)

Question 15

richer ethical framework

Answer 15

must acknowledge what it means to flourish and the emotions encompassed in the relationship

Question 16

problem with cultural norm of altruistic woman

Answer 16

provides that women must take in values of others

Question 17

gift giving model dangers (surrogacy)

Answer 17

social retribution

Question 18

how should we approach reproductive exchanges (Raymond)

Answer 18

acknowledge gender