P&L Week 1

Question 1

What are different viewpoints as to whether having a child is a right or a freedom?

Answer 1

• Reproductive autonomy (without help autonomy is lost)
• Infertility as disability (therefore, help is a disability right)
• Fairness (argument for equality of outcome)

Question 2

What are the ethical implications of assisted reproduction?

Answer 2

• Who gets access?
• How is it regulated?
• Is there a moral obligation to use Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis?
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Question 3

What is the central question of the abortion debate?

Answer 3

• Moral status of the foetus
• Conservatives say it is human (therefore abortion is almost never allowed). Liberals say it isn’t (therefore abortion is almost never not allowed)

Question 4

Outline the violinist argument for abortion

Answer 4

• You wake up, and have been plugged into a violinist. You need to stay there for 9 months to keep him alive
• If it is morally permissible to unplug from the violinist, then abortion is permissible

(this neglects the issue of whether or not you chose to plug yourself into the violinist; risk vs responsibility)