Moral Controversy on Abortion Essay
Moral controversy on abortion Essay
Moral Controversy on Abortion
Introduction
Abortion is one of the most contentious topics in biomedical ethics today, both within and outside the field. Greasley (2017) notes that when the contentious abortion medication RU-486 was released, the debate gained new momentum. RU-486 is “a pill to increase access to abortions and let women get them privately from their doctor instead of facing shouting protesters at clinics” (Derksen, n.d). As it happens with other controversial issues, some passionate people have taken sides on this controversial topic. However, the debate on this topic should be illuminated by reason rather than rhetoric. In this paper, I will evaluate the positions of an ethical egoist and social contract ethicist on this matter. Also, I will conclude the paper by discussing a professional code of ethics on abortion.
Proponents
Those who support abortion have their reasons to fight for this morally controversial topic across the world. The supporters of this act argue that restricting and criminalizing abortion prevent healthcare providers from delivery quality healthcare services. The restrictive and criminalization laws on abortion make the doctors to be unable to effectively perform their job and to offer the patients best care options based on professional ethical responsibilities and appropriate medical practice.
LET’S HELP WITH YOUR CLASS WORK
HUMAN-WRITTEN AND PLAGIARISM-FREE – ORDER HERE
Also, supporters of abortion perceive those who fight against abortion as catalysts for stigmatization, since it appears to them as a form of discrimination. They argue that the denial of healthcare services is a form of discrimination because only particular persons have access to reproductive health services. Additionally, stigma associated with gender stereotyping and abortion is closely connected to criminalization of abortion. Thus, perception of abortion as immoral or unlawful leads to increased stigmatization of girl and omen by family members, health care staff, judiciary among others.
Further, the supporters of abortion argue that accessing to safe abortion is a human right concern. According to International human rights law, every individual is entitled to right to life, a rig to be free from discrimination, violence, degrading and inhuman treatment. Human rights clearly indicate the essence of individuality in making decisions about your body – privacy and bodily autonomy (Hogg, 2018). Therefore, it is violation of human rights to force person to keep an unwanted pregnancy, or compelling them to access unsafe abortion. Therefore, according to pro-abortion debaters, establishing social and gender equity and defending the human rights of women, girls, and others who are capable of getting pregnant are inextricably related to the availability of abortion services.
Opponents
As quoted by Graham (2022), in one of articles on the New York Times’ website, one of opposers of abortion says, “I just reject the idea that as a woman I need abortion to be successful or to be as thriving as a man in my career.” Opponents of abortion believes this is act is the same as murder because life stats at conception.
Also, opponents perceive abortion as an avenue of creating a culture that understands life as disposable. So, increased access to health insurance, birth control, and sexual education will contribute in making abortion unnecessary.
Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoist Position on Topic
According to ethical egoism, an individual will always act from a perspective that is aligned with their own personal interest. This theory stresses the way that individuals should act. Thus, it does not focus on any moral duty that people have. Instead, it emphasizes people should act to serve their interests. Thus, this theory promotes the fulfillment of personal interests.
Ethical Egoist Approach and Side on Topic
In the United States, abortion became legal in 1973 but was yet to be ethical. Thus, an ethical egoist will perceive this issue with the intention of maximizing the self-interest of the individual. This theory promotes a sense of private morality, which situates the ethical decision regarding abortion in a place where individual wants to fulfill their interests. Therefore, an ethical egoist will say regarding this topic based on how they feel or want.
The ethical egoist seems to be opposed to the universalist and Kantian schools of thought. Thus, the ethical egoist would direct this debate towards letting those who are against abortion never have an abortion. Considerably, killing in self-defense is considered justified. From this point of view, it will be easy for an ethical egoist to justify a consideration of abortion to self-interest, for instance, in the case of an ectopic pregnancy.
Egoist Justification for Position
Egoists will evaluate any moral decision based on the advantage that it has for the self. Ethical egoists strongly believe that people are responsible for their own well-being and happiness. Thus, people have the moral obligation to look out for themselves. The justification of their moral position will be based on the claim that as long as the action to be performed maximizes their self-interest, they will be considered morally upright (Rachels & Rachels, 2012).
Conflict between Loyalty to Self versus Community
The conflict between loyalty to community and self is relevant to this topic because ethical egoist may consider their self-interests over those of their community. Ethical egoism makes self-interest to be all-important. It contributes to a violation of core moral beliefs, such that it cannot allow the existence of moral rights within the community. Thus, thinking about themselves (ethical egoists) in the first place will cultivate more loyalty to self-interests and less loyalty to the community or interests of others.
My Position
By looking closely at how ethical egoism approaches this debate, a number of limitations can be identified, considering the establishment of ethical principles. In particular, abortion can be viewed as a “justified form of murder.” This makes the debate on abortion to be drawn into questions of religion and law. Abortion involves ending the life of a future individual, which relates to “killing for self-defense” (Pascoe, 2019). The fundamental logical justification for killing for self-defense can be used in acceptance of abortion in instances when the mother’s life is at threat due to the pregnancy.
After exploring what ethical egoists can say or act, my position on this debate will be guided by the Kantian school of thought. Kant proposed two practical reason tenets:
- Act in a way that the universal law can adopt your activity’s main principle (generic action).
- A deed can only be right, in accordance with universal law, if it can coexist with every man’s freedom to free choice.
- Moral controversy on abortion Essay
Emmanuel Kant shows that humans have particular duties towards one another since they are rational beings. These duties can be perfect or imperfect. Thus, duties of virtues should be grounded on moral capacity with consideration to human dignity. Respect for rational people, according to Kant, can act as a moral compass for good deeds by restricting what good deeds do in the pursuit of their aims and inspiring them to work for their own improvement and the happiness of others. Consequently, Kant emphasizes respecting both oneself and other human beings. When deciding to have an abortion, a woman should not do so without good reason; instead, she should behave honorably, respect herself, and not be led by any other inclinations. For instance, if a woman believes that having an abortion is a sensible course of action that would protect her dignity while simultaneously enhancing her health, she must proceed without hesitation.
Social Contract Ethicist and Abortion
Social Contract Ethicist Approach and Side on Topic
Social contract theory is the idea that a contract or agreement made by people to build the society they live in dictates their moral and political obligations. The protection of human rights is the goal of social contract ethicists. Because it causes physical or mental suffering to other people, abortion could be seen as an act that condemns them. Thus, a social contract ethicist would argue that pregnant women should conduct themselves according to the agreed-upon way of life by society and keep the unborn child; thus, she should choose to be on the pro-life side.
Social Contract Justification for Position
An advocate of the social contract theory would argue that since all life is valuable, it is vital to defend their moral stance by defending the life of an unborn child. According to Schouten (2017), each of us must uphold the moral principles and human rules that form the foundation of our society in order to uphold the social contract. Thus, abortion is perceived as a crime according to social contract ethicists.
Collision between Personal and National Obligations
There is a collision between personal and national obligations on abortion. This is revealed by the existence of a struggle between society’s interests and those of individual women. In this instance, the right to life is upheld from a far broader perspective and is committed to both life itself and human rights. Because of this, proponents of the social contract theory argue that society’s interests are more important than individuals’, and thus regard abortion as a direct violation of morality and cultural norms.
My Position – Moral controversy on abortion Essay
I believe that protecting the public interest does not always counteract the harmful effects of personal reality (Rachels & Rachels, 2012). Instead of denying women the opportunity to make decisions about abortion, the better course of action would be to address the underlying socioeconomic problems that commonly drive them to seek abortions.
Code Of Conduct
Abortion involves conflict between familial and career obligations, according to the ANA (American Nurses Association) code for nurses. The ethical and moral duty of nurses improve and protect human life. The rights and obligations of nurses in relation to abortion collide with the rights and obligations of persons who choose to abort. Sheldon et al. (2019) point out that although nurses are receptive to this, they should respect each individual’s decision as long as it is permitted in that state.
Topic and Conflicts between Professional and Familial Duties
Regardless of differences in framing this issue, professions and associations agree upon core values that underlie the responsibilities and the rights of all health care providers in the filed f bioethics. Respect or autonomy, justice and beneficence are ethical and legal considerations that guide conduct of healthcare professionals. However, when it comes to abortion, these principles do not match up familial duties, which creates conflicts. The conflict is worsened by different opinions from the participants, because familial duties would require one to preserve life, while professional would require one to save life by loosing other.
Conclusion
The issue of abortion is whether or not a woman should have the option to end a pregnancy. The complexity of the issue has led to the simplification of the pro-choice and pro-life arguments. Theories that address this issue draw inspiration from law, morality, and religion. The two complexities push us to further investigate the depths of this moral dilemma because the current beliefs are founded on incomplete groups of opinions.
References
Derksen, M. A Rational1 Look at the Abortion Controversy.
Graham, R. (2022). ‘The Pro-Life Generation’: Young Women Fight Against Abortion Rights. Accessed on July 26, 2023, from: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/03/us/pro-life-young-women-roe-abortion.html
Greasley, K. (2017). Taking Abortion Rights Seriously: Whole Woman’s Health v Hellerstedt. The Modern Law Review, 80(2), 325-338.
Hogg, L. C. (2018). The State and the Body: Legal Regulation of Bodily Autonomy.
Pascoe, J. (2019). On finding yourself in a state of nature: A Kantian account of abortion and voluntary motherhood. Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, 5(3).
Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2012). The Elements of Moral Philosophy 7e. McGraw Hill.
Schouten, G. (2017). Fetuses, Orphans, and a Famous Violinist: On the Ethics and Politics of Abortion. Social Theory and Practice, 637-665.
Sheldon, S., Fox, M., Herring, J., McHale, J., Priaulx, N., Quigley, M., & Scott, R. (2019). Abortion: a review of South Australian law and practice [Consultation]. your say. sa. Gov. au. Moral controversy on abortion Essay
Moral controversy on abortion Essay
First, select a topic of moral controversy, debate, disagreement, and dispute, Examples of such topics are euthanasia, the death penalty, abortion, cloning, etc. You can pick any such topic. It need not be listed here.
Next, detail the positions of each side of the ethical debate. Note at least two moral reasons each side presents to show their view on the topic is correct.
Now, we want to evaluate these positions using the moral theories we studied this week:
What would an Ethical Egoist say about this topic? What side would the Ethical Egoist take? What would the Ethical Egoist say to justify their moral position? Is there a conflict between loyalty to self and to community relevant to your topic? If so, how so? Note what you feel is the best course of action.
What would a Social Contract Ethicist say about this topic? What side would the Social Contract Ethicist take? What would the Social Contract Ethicist say to justify their moral position? Does your topic involve a collision between personal obligations and national ones? If so, how so? Note what you feel is the best course of action.
Finally, reference and discuss any professional code of ethics relevant to your topic such as the AMA code for doctors, the ANA code for nurses, or any other pertinent professional code. State whether and how your chosen topic involves any conflicts between professional and familial duties.
Cite the textbook and incorporate outside sources, including citations.
Requirements
Length: 3-4pages (not including title page or references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Moral controversy on abortion Essay Title page
References page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources in addition to the course textbook) textbook is the elements of moral philosophy tenth edition
