Right To Life Argument By Stormy Thomson

Stormy Almond

Thomson criticizes the “right to life” argument using several thought experiments such as the violinist thought experiment in which a person has been kidnapped by the crazy fans of a violinist who is dying from a failing kidney. The person is expected to stay connected to the violinist for approximately nine months, or longer if required. According to the “right to life” argument, the violinist is a person and deserves to have a life; therefore, regardless of the fact that the person that is hooked up to him is a victim and unwilling, it is that persons’ obligation to stay hooked up and save the life of the violinist. Thomson argues that a person, regardless of circumstance, has the right to control what goes on with their body. She argues that if the person decides to stay connected to the violinist they are within their rights and if they decide to disconnect and the violinist dies, they are in their rights as well.

She makes the connection between the violinist and the unborn baby while the kidnapped

person is the mother. Through the frame of this thought experiment, one could see how distressing it would to be a victim and expected to carry on taking care of this person for months or years. This thought experiment seems to make more sense when a mother is a victim of a rape, but not so much if the woman was engaging in unprotected sexual activity willingly because it is understood that there is a chance of pregnancy being a result. In such a case, it would be easy for a person to disagree with the violinist argument and criticize it because of how it is a bit of a stretch to make the connection between that situation of being an unwilling victim and pregnancy, especially when a person willingly engages in risky sexual activity with another.
I would say that she should amend her argument to state that a person was engaging in activities that could result in victimization. For example, perhaps the person enjoys going to a hospital in a very bad part of town, donating blood and visiting patients. This kidnap victim stays at the hospital until very late at night and walks home alone to a place with high criminal activity. It is very likely that something bad may happen, but the victim continues this activity because they enjoy it and they think they are prepared for victimization or that they will never become a victim.
One day, the person that engages in that risky behavior is a victim of a crime, such as kidnapping, due to their actions.

This unfortunate victim, the unborn baby, was created out of a situation of that persons’ making. Although they understood the chances they were taking when engaging in that activity, they do not believe anything could happen to them or that they were adequately prepared to handle that situation. Each of the persons mentioned, the victim, the unwillingly kidney donor, and the mother still deserve the right to control their body regardless of the choices they make. On the other hand, one would argue that if victimization or unplanned/unprepared pregnancy occurs, then the victim or mother should take responsibility of their actions. I would reply that for the victim there is no such thing as taking responsibility for being a victim. In terms of pregnancy, there are many ways to take responsibility for it and abortion is an

option.
Finally, Thomson’s use of thought experiments was a very new way of approaching abortion by framing it in situations where ethical boundaries, such as what is right and wrong, are not so easily distinguishable. For example, one might argue that they would stay and help the violinist regardless of the crime against them and another might argue that they will not be manipulated by guilt trips or force and want to be disconnected. She makes sound arguments that will get people to think about what they would do in that situation. However, I would argue that her first example of the violinist needs to make a more obvious connection to abortion because many can, and probably will, claim that they are entirely two separate, very different situations. Because of this reason, most people will not see the underlying connection to abortion and some will agree with staying connected to the violinist, the most obvious ethical choice for most people, and some will agree to disconnect, which is also morally, and ethically, justified according to Dr. Thomson.