The Ethical Dilemma Of Abortion - 1319 Words

Abortion is a divisive problem in our time, and it is one that is difficult to solve as each side comes from very different initial premises. As Judith Jarvis Thomson points out, anti-abortionists rely on the premise that foetus’ are persons, and therefore are morally equivalent to human beings.1 Conversely, pro-choice advocates typically come from the premise that, as Mary Anne Warren suggests â€Å"foetuses are neither persons nor members of the moral community.† The key ethical schism, is around the issue of whether the foetus constitutes a person. This essay however will, as Judith Jarvis Thomson did, evaluate the problem on the basis of the assumption that a foetus does have equal moral status to a fully developed human. This creates a new dilemma: if a foetus is indeed equivalent to a person, is it ever right to end a person’s life? This question, and ultimately the ethical dilemma of abortion will be explored through the theoretical approach of Utilitarianism. In general terms, there are three main aspects of Utilitarianism: teleology, consequentialism and utility. A teleological theory is a theory which operates on the basis that the ‘end justifies the means’, so it is not the action itself that is important, but the intended result of the action. Consequentialism means that whether an action is good or bad can be evaluated by the consequences it produces, so utilitarianism would evaluate an action based on the pleasure it produces, making it a theory based specificallyShow MoreRelatedAbortion Ethical Dilemma1643 Words   |  7 PagesAbortion Ethical Dilemma An 18 year old girl gets pregnant and can’t decide whether to keep the baby or have an abortion. Her parents are very religious and do not believe in sex before marriage therefore would not take to kindly to their daughter being pregnant. She does not want to kill her unborn child but feels like there is no other option besides having an abortion. 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In this paper, I will talk about abortion due to a woman carrying a child with Downs Syndrome and how this can be an immoral decision. Ethical Dilemma A woman named Susan hadRead MoreThe Ethical Dilemma Of Abortion1102 Words   |  5 Pagesdetermines what is ethical and what is not? Can someone determine what is right simply relying on what they feel? Or does something drive them to know what is wrong or right? In the case of abortion, one would may ask: Is the fetus a person? At what stage in its development does, it becomes a person? Does any women have the right to decide if she is going to carry the baby to term or not? (Boyle, 2004) This paper will identify the ethical dilemma of abortion, core beliefs of abortion, and possible resolutionsRead MoreAbortion: An ethical dilemma.1944 Words   |  8 PagesAbortion, the intentional termination of a pregnancy through surgical or medical devices, was legalized in 1973. This issue of abortion has caused a great segregation in our country. 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This paper will evaluate an ethical dilemma about abortion in relation to the Christian worldviewRead More Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Abortion Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesEthical Dilemmas Surrounding Abortion In our society, there are many ethical dilemmas that we are faced with that are virtually impossible to solve. One of the most difficult and controversial issues that we are faced with is abortion. There are many strong arguments both for and against the right to have an abortion which are so complicated that it becomes impossible to resolve. The complexity of this issue lies in the different aspects of the argument. The essence of a person, rights, and who