Understanding Humanity and Moral Community in the Context of Abortion Ethics
Exploring the complex ethical considerations surrounding abortion, this discussion delves into determining the humanity of a being, defining the moral community based on traits of personhood, fetal development, and the right to life. The arguments include the morality of abortion, the definition of human, personhood criteria, and the implications for the right to life. Ultimately, it questions the moral status of a fetus and its membership in the moral community.
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Presentation Transcript
OVERVIEW How do you determine the humanity of a being? How do you determine the humanity of a being? On the definition of Human On the definition of Human Defining the Moral Community Defining the Moral Community Fetal development and the Right to Life Fetal development and the Right to Life Potential Personhood and the Right to Life Potential Personhood and the Right to Life Postscript on Infanticide Postscript on Infanticide Conclusion Conclusion
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE HUMANITY OF A BEING? Part 1: Is it possible to establish that abortion is morally permissible even Part 1: Is it possible to establish that abortion is morally permissible even on the assumption that a fetus is an entity with a full on the assumption that a fetus is an entity with a full- -fledged right to life? life? fledged right to Part 2: The fetus cannot be considered a member of the moral community Part 2: The fetus cannot be considered a member of the moral community because it is not a person and personhood, not genetic humanity, is the because it is not a person and personhood, not genetic humanity, is the basis of membership for this community. basis of membership for this community.
ON THE DEFINITION OF HUMAN If (1) It is wrong to kill innocent human beings, and (2) fetuses are innocent If (1) It is wrong to kill innocent human beings, and (2) fetuses are innocent human beings, then (3) it is wrong to kill fetuses. human beings, then (3) it is wrong to kill fetuses. (1) (1) Is a self evident truth Is a self evident truth The argument rests on what the term human being means. The argument rests on what the term human being means. Genetic sense Genetic sense Moral sense Moral sense
DEFINING THE MORAL COMMUNITY Traits of personhood or humanity in the moral sense Traits of personhood or humanity in the moral sense Consciousness and in particular the capacity to feel pain Consciousness and in particular the capacity to feel pain Reasoning Reasoning Self Self- -motivated activity motivated activity Capacity to communicate Capacity to communicate Self Self- -awareness awareness
FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE RIGHT TO LIFE How far in advance since conception, does a human being need to be How far in advance since conception, does a human being need to be before it begins to have a right to life by virtue, not of being fully a before it begins to have a right to life by virtue, not of being fully a person as of yet, but of being like a person? person as of yet, but of being like a person? To what extent, if any does the fact that a fetus has the potential for To what extent, if any does the fact that a fetus has the potential for becoming a person endow it with some of the same rights? becoming a person endow it with some of the same rights?
POTENTIAL PERSONHOOD AND THE RIGHT TO LIFE T The rights of any actual person invariably outweigh those of any potential he rights of any actual person invariably outweigh those of any potential person whenever the two conflict person whenever the two conflict The space explorer analogy The space explorer analogy Neither a fetus s resemblance to a person, nor its potential for becoming a Neither a fetus s resemblance to a person, nor its potential for becoming a person, provides any basis whatsoever for the claim that it has any person, provides any basis whatsoever for the claim that it has any significant right to life significant right to life The laws which restrict the right to obtain an abortion, or limit the period of The laws which restrict the right to obtain an abortion, or limit the period of pregnancy during which an abortion maybe performed, are a wholly pregnancy during which an abortion maybe performed, are a wholly unjustifiable violation of a woman s most basic moral and constitutional unjustifiable violation of a woman s most basic moral and constitutional rights rights
POSTSCRIPT ON INFANTICIDE Warren s argument for abortion justifies infanticide as well but it is much Warren s argument for abortion justifies infanticide as well but it is much more difficult more difficult to justify to justify Newborns can be adopted and does not affect the mother s body anymore Newborns can be adopted and does not affect the mother s body anymore so she does not have a complete moral right on what Is done with the so she does not have a complete moral right on what Is done with the infant infant Impoverished society Impoverished society Severe physical anomalies Severe physical anomalies
CONCLUSION Many moral issues Many moral issues All genetically human entities All genetically human entities should not should not have moral status have moral status
