RE: Anand Giridharadas ,” Abortion” December 14, 2012 Abortion.. is it a women's right or should everyone have the right to life? Many believe that once the baby is alive it is considered murder. However others may believe it is up to the woman if one wants to keep it or not. This has been a topic amongst many arguments around the world and many do not come to a conclusion. It is your right to believe in what you want, so is abortion good or bad?
By examining the views on abortion of Marry Anne Warren, this paper will argue that abortion is morally permissible on the grounds that early fetuses, though they are genetically human, are not persons (members of the moral community). In this paper I will introduce Warren’s argument on why abortion is morally permissible followed by a counter argument by Don Marquis. Furthermore, this paper will analyze why Warren’s argument is more persuasive than the counter argument offered by Marquis followed by criticisms of the analysis. Lastly, I will discuss why the objections to the analysis are unconvincing. Warren beings her argument by acknowledging that abortion “…usually entails the death of a fetus.
She also claims that the antiabortionists are fighting against the rights of women and the ability of free choice. McElroy’s argument for abortion wasn’t convincing and most of the claims presented needed more support. I believe that abortion should be illegal unless in some special cases such as rape and situations where the mother’s health can be affect by the pregnancy. The main issue of abortion is the fetus’ life. It all comes down to when it become a human.
This characteristic of non-commitment that is symbolic of so many aspects of modern day life has led certain individuals to reject a fetus under the credence that it in itself is not a person, and therefore is not entitled to the rights any other individual can receive. On the other side victims of rape, incest, and molestation rightfully assert that to carry the fetus to term would prove impossible. Certain women due to medical conditions or threats to health state that delivering the baby would be equivalent to forfeiting their own lives. There are yet other factions who practice sex selective abortions and abort children based on their gender; this is commonly practices in countries such as India & China and where in the value of a male child that of a female child exceeds. This is not only a repulsive form of discrimination but it skews the gender ratios that present enormous problems for future generations.
Why Abortions Should Be Made Illegal. Abortions are the worst thing a woman can do against dignity. It is a crime against life. No woman has should have the right to kill a new living being nor should they want to. Abortions are immoral and should not be legalized.
Finally, picture a teenage girl who is unmarried and pregnant. Her fiancé is not the father and he is angry. Given the problems this child may cause her relationship, would you call for an abortion? If yes, you have just declared the murder of Jesus Christ. As you can see, seemingly justifiable abortions could have stripped us of very important and influential historical figures.
Moreover children should not come into the world unwanted as this only increases the already high number of orphans. In some cases some parents/peoples simply cannot afford to raise children and this leads to babies being born into poverty. On the other hand people that are anti-legal abortion strongly believe that personhood begins from the moment of conception and claim fetuses have a fundamental right to life which should be protected. Additionally women should use contraceptives and not abortion to prevent unwanted pregnancies as it doesn’t allow the woman to even reach that stage of having to consider abortion. Correspondingly selective abortion based on genetic abnormalities is overt discrimination.
Abortions are not nearly as safe as many think for the mother, physically or mentally. Abortion also happens to not be the only alternative to having a child, but many see it as that. Abortion is wrong and should not be permitted anywhere, because abortion is basically the murdering of an unborn child, many physical and psychological risks and damages come from abortion, and lastly, there are numerous other ways to get out of parenting an unwanted child than abortion. Since life begins at conception, abortion is similar to murder, as it is the act of taking human life. No civilized society permits one human to intentionally harm or take the life of another human without punishment, and abortion is no different.
Abortion Should Be Illegal As many people know, abortion is a procedure to end pregnancy. In the United States, the majority of women getting an abortion are under the age of 25. Although people believe a fetus is not a human until birth, this is not true. Life begins at conception. This debate will continue for centuries.
Even in the case of rape, the RC Church does not support abortion - the foetus would be paying for someone else’s crime. “Human life is sacred”. Humanae Vitae, 1968: “The unborn human being’s right to live is one of the inalienable human rights” Pope John Paul II, 1985 "Abortion is a serious sin. Everyone, whether Catholic or not, should have a proper respect for human life. "Declaration on Procured Abortion, 1974: "From the time that the ovum is fertilised a new life is begun which is neither that of the father or the mother.