Philosophy essay
Topic: "Abortion is impermissible, because it deprives a being of a future like ours. Accordingly, it is morally similar to killing a healthy adult." Critically discuss this argument, drawing upon at least one of the authors we have looked at in the readings.
Abortion remains one of the most controversial moral issues. Aside rare exceptions, the perception that abortion is seriously immoral has received little support in contemporary philosophical literature (Marquis, 1989). Nonetheless, a number of views exist when it comes to explaining the permissibility of abortion, especially when future prospects of the foetus are taken into account. From the personhood and potential aspect, a foetus will acquire the characteristics and capacities marking them as persons through the normal course of life events. Thus, it is reason for abortion to be impermissible (Handfield, 2011). However, Singer, alongside the moderates, make note of the flaws in this argument, resulting in Marquis' argument, that the loss of ones life is one of the greatest losses one can suffer, more appealing.
"Abortion is not Healthcare"
Abortion Memorial
DSC_494214571DSC_4942His argument lends great credibility to the idea that abortion deprives a being of a future like ours; thus, it is morally similar to killing a healthy adult.
The personhood and potential argument suggests that foetuses have the prospective ability to acquire the same characteristics and capabilities as us, which would mark them as "persons"- rational and self-conscious beings (Singer, 1993). This argument proposes that: it is wrong to kill a potential human being, a human foetus is a potential human being, and thus, it is wrong to kill a human foetus (Singer, 1993). One might argue that a foetus does not have those features and never did- it is only those who are temporarily deprived of those who are entitled to protection in their absence (Handfield,