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Ethical dilemma for abortions
Kantian ethics in abortion
Ethical dilemma for abortions
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Abortion is the ethical issue where there have been many cases that women have had to get them illegally or were not given the option to get an abortion. Utilitarianism is the theory in which the ethical doctrine that virtue is based on utility, and that conduct should be directed toward promoting the greatest happiness of the greatest number of persons (Utilitarianism). The theory of deontology states we are morally obligated to act in accordance with a certain set of principles and rules regardless of outcome (Kant). Utilitarians would be on the side of aborting the child in order to reach the maximum amount of happiness for the greatest number of people whereas Kant’s theory would be okay with aborting in order to be moral by fulfilling the sense of duty to keep the baby. I will argue that abortion is moral using Mill's utilitarianism theory that it is okay to abort the baby in order for the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
Abortion, by definition, is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death (Abortion). Abortion has been around for years, and is one of the top most discussed issues in America where approximately 1.3 million abortions performed each year (Jensen). In the United States, 9 out of 10 abortions are performed in the
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Using this theory we would receive the maximum amount of happiness for the maximum number of people. If we were to use Kant's theory that saying abortion is moral then we would be saying that murder is moral too. I would say that the best decision would have to be the Utilitarianism theory because that would be in the best interest of everyone surrounding the woman especially the fetus. I believe the circumstance of the pregnancy outweighs the decision of being moral or
There are many factors that are taken into consideration when determining if abortion is morally permissible, or wrong including; sentience of the fetus, the fetuses right to life, the difference between adult human beings and fetuses, the autonomy of the pregnant woman, and the legality of abortion. Don Marquis argues that abortion is always morally wrong, excluding cases in which the woman is threatened by pregnancy, or abortion after rape, because fetuses have a valuable future. Mary Anne Warren contends that late term abortions are morally permissible because birth is the most significant event for a fetus, and a woman’s autonomy should never be suspended.
In Scenario II, it is more difficult to discern exactly what an (Act) Utilitarian would say about the morality of the choices made since these choices bring pain in suffering to a greater number of people. The loss of three fetuses, that were not otherwise going to be aborted, would have a tremendous effect on many people. The mothers and their families would experience a great deal of pain and suffering over this loss. However, when weighed with the happiness brought to thousand of cured people, a Utilitarian would say the acts were moral. Since utilitarianism states that in any situation where there is a moral choice to make, the right thing to do is that which is likely to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
A good starting place is to look at abortion from a feminist standpoint. Within feminism, the debate over abortion is not based in the morality of abortion or the integrity of people who support or are against abortion; it is about how abortion fits into our culture and how a women's choice to undergo or not undergo an abortion influences the status of women within our culture. Abortion has become a double-edged sword for women's rights. Without the right to choose women would be locked into their role as mothers, but being giv...
To analyze the question of "Is abortion moral? " one must not take different examples, but use a single example that includes most, if not all of the cases. The only exception, for the reasons I will state afterwards, is sexual harassment. This is the only extreme case that occurs in real life. To strengthen the argument I will try to look from a Kantian perspective. .
To those who are unaware of exactly what an abortion is; it is when a pregnant woman has a fetus removed from her womb. This can either happen by induced labor, or by an in office procedure where the woman is put under general anesthesia and the fetus is surgically removed. This procedure usually takes place under a few hours and the patient may be sent home that day.
Abortion refers to the termination of one’s pregnancy, resulting in the removal of one’s fetus to prevent it from being born. While the concept is simple enough, the crux of the argument lies in the morality of this procedure and whether or not a woman should be allowed to sacrifice a fetus to better her own life. Abortion must continue to be legalized in order to ensure that women have that choice.
Many arguments in the abortion debate assume that the morality of abortion depends upon the moral status of the foetus. While I regard the moral status of the foetus as important, it is not the central issue that determines the moral justifiability of abortion. The foetus may be awarded a level of moral status, nevertheless, such status does not result in the prescription of a set moral judgement. As with many morally significant issues, there are competing interests and a variety of possible outcomes that need to be considered when making a moral judgement on abortion. While we need to determine the moral status of the foetus in order to establish the type of entity we are dealing with, it does not, however, exist in a moral vacuum. There are other key issues requiring attention, such as the moral status and interests of the pregnant woman who may desire an abortion, and importantly, the likely consequences of aborting or not aborting a particular foetus. Furthermore, I assert that moral status should be awarded as a matter of degree, based upon the capacities of sentience and self-consciousness an entity possesses. In a bid to reach a coherent conclusion on the issue, the moral status of both foetus and woman, along with the likely results of aborting a particular foetus, must be considered together. Given the multiple facets requiring consideration, I assert that utilitarianism (Mill 1863) offers a coherent framework for weighing and comparing the inputs across a variety of situations, which can determine whether it is ever morally justifiable to have an abortion.
As defined by the Merriam- Webster dictionary, abortion is “the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by resulting in or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus as a spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during
Imagine…the birth of a human being into the world. 9 months of endless anticipation leading to someone’s first chance at seeing the world for the first time. While some enjoy the result of a pregnancy, leading to a new human being entering life, some are not so fond, or just can’t be in such a situation. Abortion is the supposed “cure” to this problem and is, for the most part, done safely. However, one of the factors stopping someone from committing an abortion is the consideration of moral status on the child.
Abortion defined is the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. Each year in the United States 1.6 million abortions are performed with 91% of them being performed during the first trimester (under 12 weeks of gestation). There are second trimester abortions as well (under 24 weeks of gestation) which occurs in 9% of the accumulative abortions a year in the United States. And about 100 abortions are performed in the third trimester (above 24 weeks gestation) this is approximately .01% of all abortions. 1.5 million U.S. women with unwanted pregnancies will choose abortion each year.
For example, a mother who opts to abort lives a life full of misery and guilt following her unethical action. The same issue is explored by Kant, where he argues that frequent abortions would make the human race extinct. Therefore, not irrational or good to the society. Lastly, they argue that abortion denies the fetus the right to life which is granted by the Human Rights Commission. Judith Thomson argument that a human embryo is a person indicates that he or she has the right to life, and no one has a right to terminate it (Baird & Stuart, 78). Therefore, abortion is unacceptable, irrational and immoral action to
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by destruction of a fertilized egg, embryo or fetus before birth, prior to the time when the fetus attains viability, or capacity for life outside the uterus (Encyclopedia, 1995, p.43). Currently almost twenty-five percent of pregnancies in the United States are aborted. About one forth of people who abort are teenagers, fifty-seven percent are younger than 25, and almost eighty percent are unmarried. During the first trimester is when most of the abortions take place. Only about ten percent are performed later in the pregnancy (Slife, 1998, p.329). Abortions go back as far as Ancient Greece where it was used as a type of population control. Then in the Roman Times men had total control over the procedure. “Man could give law-enforced command that his wife have an abortion, or he could punish or divorce his wife for having one without his consent” (Encyclopedia, 1995, p.43).
Abortion may appear ethical or unethical depending on various viewpoints and circumstances. The fetus is considered a person and bringing it to term may be unethical as the act is considered as murder. In some situations, the mother may require to terminate a pregnancy for her bodily autonomy (Johnston, 2003). In such positions, the resolution to terminate a pregnancy may be argued as the most ethical choice. The mother is also considered to having a reasonable level of ethical responsibility to the fetus, because she did not take enough precaution to ensure avoiding conception (Cline, 2014). The mother’s ethical responsibility to the fetus may not be enough to deprive her choice of abortion; it...
What is an abortion? Abortion is clearly defined as the termination of a pregnancy. This procedure is most often performed within the first 28 weeks of the pregnancy cycle. Abortion can be looked at as wrong, morally and lawfully, in many perspectives of people in today’s society. However, the abortion procedure is moral until proof shines through.
To conclude on all theories they all provided different views to view ethics and principles. But they all share a common theme to always think about the consequences or the outcomes in why or not to decide an abortion. I personally believe abortion is an important issue that has be discuss because we all view life differently in my opinion life is starts when you are still a fetus and the life has value. I also wonder how abortion would come to a mothers mind but there are a lot of reasons that contribute to this so in my opinion no one has the right to judge those who decided to do an