Question

Abortion is one of the most difficult and controversial moral issues we will consider. Listen to both sides, even if it is difficult to do. Both sides have important moral insights, even if ultimately these insights are outweighed by the insights of the other side. The goal of this discussion is not to convince you to accept one position over the other, but to help you to understand both sides. As you consider this difficult issue, it is important to distinguish two questions: Is abortion morally wrong? Should abortion be illegal? Choose one of the questions above and argue both sides with supporting evidence. Please write your discussion choice in the title line.

Answer 1

The termination of pregnancy before birth is known as “abortion.” Abortion can occur either spontaneously or can be induced. Abortion can be moral based on the following arguments:

1. A person with "right to life" have to exhibit certain properties, i.e. the consciousness (at least the capacity to feel pain), reasoning, self-motivation, the ability to communicate, and self-awareness. However, Warren proposed that a fetus may not exhibit all these qualities to qualify the "right to life," but if exhibits only one or none of them does not make them qualify. So, abortion is morally permissible as the fetus qualifies only one criterion (consciousness).

2. Similar to men, women also have the right to control their body and bodily functions. So, forcing a woman to continue an unwanted pregnancy is immoral

3. The right to abortion is a part of gender equality

4. Making abortion illegal put several women at risk of using illegal abortifacients

5. The right of abortion should be legalized so that women can make free choices about whether to continue or end the pregnancy, which greatly influences the population control

6. Abortions prevent the children to born in poverty or under unfavorable circumstances that negatively influence their growth

Answer 2

The four principles, especially in the context of bioethics in the United States, has often been critiqued for raising the principle of autonomy to the highest place, such that it trumps all other principles or values. How would you rank the importance of each of the four principles? How do you believe they would be ordered in the context of the Christian biblical narrative? Refer to the topic Resources in your response.