I would agree with L.A. Paul’s argument that having children is an epistemically transformative experience that makes it difficult (or, for her, rather impossible) to make a rational choice in regards to the decision to have children or not. However, her claim that it is impossible to make rational decision based on “projections about what it would be like for you to have a child” (Paul 149) is rather controversial, as, to a certain extent at least, considering different possible projections seems more reasonable than simply having a child without much forethought. I would agree that these considerations can never fully explain what the epistemically transformative experience will actually be like, but some testimony would seem more helpful …show more content…
They address L.A. Paul’s argument concerning Sally (who would like a child, but decides not to have a child because not having one would maximize her utility) and Anne (who would not like a child, but decides to have a child because she knows it will maximize her utility). Paul argues that using this method of decision-making appears counterintuitive, but that “to be rational, we have to ignore our phenomenal preferences” (Paul 167). Unlike the authors of “Expecting the Unexpected,” I agree with Paul that making an epistemically transformative decision based on maximizing utility seems bizarre. To consider the testimony of other parents as being more important than subjective preferences, at least in the case of child-rearing, seems troubling for both parents (the threat of life-long regret) and the child in Anne’s case (what if Anne does not fully love her child because she regrets ignoring her subjective preferences?). Also, placing too much importance on testimony seems risky, as the are so many conflicting testimonies regarding
Many parents do in fact have desires related to their children that with sex selection could come to fruition, however using a child solely as an end seems unreasonable . Savulescu argues that if parents “love their child as an end itself” that any other desires, such as a father wanting a male child because he loves boys that play sports, that sex selection could facilitate would do no harm since it is ok for some of the “means” of having a child to be fulfilled.
Sanger, Margaret. "The Morality of Birth Control." Gifts of Speech. Smith College, 2012. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.
In kilner’s case study “Having a baby the new-fashioned way”, present a story that can be relatable to a lot of families struggling to have a child. This is a dilemma that can be controversial and ethical in own sense. The couple that were discussed in the case study were Betty and Tom. Betty and Tom who are both in their early forties who have struggled to bear children. Dr. Ralph Linstra from Liberty University believes that “Fertility can be taken for granted”. Dr. Ralph talks about how many couples who are marriage may run into an issue of bearing a child and turn to “medical science” to fix the issue. He discusses that “God is author of life and he can open and close the womb”. That in it’s self presents how powerful God.
In her short story "Paul's Case," Willa Cather tells the tale of a young boy's struggle to separate himself from his common, everyday life and the people he shared it with. Paul admired the opulence of the theater, the wardrobe, the perfumes, the lights, the colors, the flowers, and the champagne. When he realized it wasn't possible to have these things, he threw his life away. Cather's purpose was to show that, by focusing on what he didn't have, Paul could not live at all.
One of these ethical issues is regarding the use of fertility drugs. These drugs such as Pergonal, can trigger ovulation and increase the production of eggs which will increase a woman’s chances of conception. Often, these fertility drugs escalate the chances of multiple births that can lead to possible risk for both the mother and fetuses. Possible risk for carrying more than one fetus includes premature birth; long periods of hospital stays after birth as well as a higher risk one or more of these children will have some kind of serious disability or brain damage. In Greg Pence’s essay “The McCaughey Septuplets: God’s Will or Human Choice?” Pence says “the human uterus did not emerge in evolution to bear litters and that large multiple births are unnatural” (87). Doctors often recommend “selective reduction” (88) of all but a couple of the embryos to reduce the risk to the mother and fetus however many mothers refuse instead believing that the end results are “God’s will”. He makes a good point saying if it were “God’s will” then there would be “no need for fertility...
A young man, misunderstood, confused, and unhappy with his life is not too uncommon. Most individuals in this situation would evolve or conform to his or her surroundings. In Willa Cather’s, “Paul’s Case,� this is far from the truth. Paul despises living his life on Cordelia Street in Pittsburgh, PA so much that he lies and steals to get away. Sherry Crabtree, a critic of this story, emphasizes the use of symbolism in this story; she notes that flowers are used to show how Paul is isolated for his existing world. Consequently, the main idea of “Paul’s Case� is the struggle of a young man’s isolation; Paul’s actions show how he is disgusted with the way his life is going and will do anything to alter his lifestyle. Cather does an exceptional job using symbols to represent the way Paul is isolated.
The way a child was conceived isn’t normally a thought anyone would focus on. No one expects that a child would be upset about how they were created. But in the poem “The Planned Child” by Sharon Olds that is exactly what happens. In this the poem, the reader gets to experience the thoughts of a woman who is upset that she wasn’t conceived in a more romantic way. The speaker’s identity is never revealed so the speaker could be the author or just any young woman. The reader gets to witness the woman’s emotion change from disapproval and disappointment to acceptance and understanding. Sharon Olds show the reader how the speaker can celebrate her conception with unique imagery and an adapting tone.
According to the cliché rhyme,“First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage.” What happens, though, if the “baby in the baby carriage” never comes to fruition? Millions of couples struggle with infertility every year. Despite relentless effort and sometimes even therapy, many relationships become strained by the curse of sterility. Both partners in a childless (yet child-wanting) couple feel the tension of the struggle to become parents. One literature-based couple that struggles with infertility is Shakespeare’s Macbeths. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth yearn for a child and react to their unsuccessful attempts at becoming parents in psychologically understandable ways.
At the beginning of the book we see Phillip is very judgmental about the black people just like his mother. Later Philip meets an old man named Timothy who takes him of Curacao with the mother's permission. After they leave the Curacao the boat gets blown up by german U Boats and they get stuck on a raft.After the explosion Philip is Blinded from the explosion and cant see but Timothy helps him but they also get frustrated at each other.
Mills, Claudia. "Are There Morally Problematic Reasons for Having Children?." Philosophy and Public Policy Quarterly 25.4 (2005): 2-9. Philosophy and Public Policy Quarterly. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
I never dreamed of having a child at such a young are. In fact, in high school I was the typical student. I maintained good grades, stayed on the honor roll, participated in extracurricular activities, and even volunteered at local hospitals. Outside of school my friends I were always doing something after the football games or just hanging on Saturday nights, being typical teens. Soon all of that would come to an end. Little did I know for the next few months to come, I would be home to what could be our future president or the person that would make history for finding the cure for cancer. The scariest thing is, I would be forever responsible for a new life, as if trying to be responsible for my own was not enough.
Kidder the author compares tough choices through energetic self-reflection. He says that right versus right should always be the priority, but if you see the problem as right versus wrong than you are already a bad person. Lane is looking his problem as a right versus wrong, because he doesn’t know if aborting the baby is right or wrong. We don’t really know what would be his action toward his problem but just thinking about his thoughts we conclude that he is not really a “good person” like he wants to be. “It is right to honor a woman’s right to make decisions affecting her body and the right to protect the lives of the unborn.” This is an example the author considers as a tough choice; one right value against another one. (16 Kidder). The author explains that really tough choices like Lane’s don’t center upon right versus wrong, they involve right versus right. To explain this further there are three categories a tough problem could fall into in this case for lanes decision, its Ends-based
In Paul’s letters he wrote as Christians we are to give up our lives to serve Jesus. In the context where Paul says, “Beware of dogs.” I gather this to mean impure, unclean or even unholy people who would consume you. Paul probably gave this moniker because of how the people spoke against the principles of the gospel. They were wanting to chomp those who were combating their wrong doing.
As a child I was told that I could be whatever I dreamed of; in my dreams I never envisioned myself as a mother. I began suggesting my decision to childlessness to my parents in subtle ways, but it was not until a family dinner with both mine and my partner's family that I was asked bluntly by my mother if I was serious about not wanting children. At that point, I openly declared that I had no plans or desire to have kids. The conversation that followed took away any shred of confidence I had about my chosen childlessness and left me with a feeling of uncertainty. The first comment, from my father, hit me like a punch in the stomach.
Lastly, Children have become more of an economic hindrance than a help. One of the popular reasons to having kids is when one grows old, they have their children to take care of them. However, now a days, it costs a lot of money to raise a child. “he cost of raising a child has skyrocketed. You'll now have to take $235,000 out of your wallet to raise a kid to 17 -- and that doesn't even include college costs” (Hawkins). If one doe not want to have kids, they are basically taking away the biggest reason to get married in the first place.