Both Sides of
Abortion
A Brief Overview
* Notice that a higher level of education being correlated with higher alignment with pro-choice stances does not neccessarily mean that pro-choice is closer to truth (the existence of which, by the way, meta-ethically, is contested). For instance, it could be that higher education is "liberalizing" (left-leaning) in its effect.
The Moral Spectrum
Abortion always obligatory
Abortion always permissible
Abortion permissible if rape or if the mother is in danger
Abortion permissible if and only if rape
Abortion always impermissible
Abortion permissible if and only if the mother is in danger
The Legal Spectrum
Abortion always legal
Abortion legal under certain circumstances
Abortion always illegal
Round 1
The Ethics Arguments
Pro-Life
Arguments
By Innocence
​
1: Killing innocent human beings is morally wrong.
2: Abortion kills an innocent human being.
C: Therefore, abortion is morally wrong.
​
​
​
By Pain-Sensibility
1. Causing pain to a potentially-pain-sensible thing is wrong if one has no right to cause pain to the organism
2. One has no right to cause pain to a fetus, a potentially-pain-sensible thing.
C1. Causing pain to a fetus is wrong.
3. Abortion causes pain to a fetus, or is possible in causing pain to a fetus.
C. Abortion is wrong
This Argument Depends On: Intuitionist over Theoretical metaethical approach
​
​
​
​
​
​
*Point of Contention* Potentiality:
Pro-Choice
Arguments
By Bodily Autonomy -- "My Body, My Choice"
​
​
1. The right to bodily autonomy is a fundamental human right that grants individuals control over their own bodies and health decisions.
​
2. Other medical procedures, such as organ donation or blood transfusion, require individual consent and cannot be compelled against a person's will.
​
C1. Women have the right to bodily autonomy, including the right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy, as this decision directly impacts her body and health.
​
3. Pregnancy affects a woman's body.
​
C. Therefore, women have the right to choose whether to continue a pregnancy.
​
E.g. J.J. Thomson's A Defense of Abortion, people-seeds analogy
​
​
​
By Pain-Sensibility
1: Causing pain to a potentially-pain-sensible thing is wrong if one has no right to cause pain to the organism
P2: One has no right to cause pain to a fetus, a potentially-pain-sensible thing.
C1: Causing pain to a fetus is wrong.
P3: Abortion causes pain to a fetus, or is possible in causing pain to a fetus.
C: Abortion is wrong
​
​
​
​
​
​
*Point of Contention* Potentiality: