Title: The ethics of abortion : women's rights, human life, and the question of justice /
Authors: Kaczor, Christopher, 1969-
Publisher: Routledge,
Year: 2011
Subjects: Abortion Moral and ethical aspects; Abortion Law and legislation; Women's rights; Abortion, Induced ethics; Abortion, Induced legislation & jurisprudence; Abortion, Criminal ethics; Abortion, Criminal legislation & jurisprudence; Women's Rights
Abstract: Appealing to reason rather than religious belief, this book is the most comprehensive case against the choice of abortion yet published. The Ethics of Abortion critically evaluates all the major grounds for denying fetal personhood, including the views of those who defend not only abortion but also infanticide. It also provides several (non-theological) justifications for the conclusion that all human beings, including those in utero, should be respected as persons. This book also critiques the view that abortion is not wrong even if the human fetus is a person. The Ethics of Abortion examines hard cases for those who are prolife, such as abortion in cases of rape or in order to save the mother's life, as well as hard cases for defenders of abortion, such as sex selection abortion and the rationale for being "personally opposed" but publically supportive of abortion. It concludes with a discussion of whether artificial wombs might end the abortion debate. Answering the arguments of defenders of abortion, this book provides reasoned justification for the view that all intentional abortions are morally wrong and that doctors and nurses who object to abortion should not be forced to act against their consciences.
Contents: Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- How should we talk about abortion? -- Loaded language -- Women and abortion -- Moral goodness and human flourishing -- Does Personhood Begin After Birth? -- Persons vs human beings -- Not all human beings are persons -- Potentiality is irrelevant -- When does personhood begin? -- Critical responses to justifications of infanticide -- Is species morally irrelevant? -- Potentiality and the symmetry principle -- Curious exceptions to the rule -- Defining personhood -- Seriously ill newborns -- Arbitrary limits? -- Does Personhood Begin At Birth? -- Distinguishing humans from persons -- Abortion yes, infanticide no -- Critiquing the conventional view -- Is personhood a matter of location? -- What is partial birth abortion? -- Reconsidering Warren's account -- Does Personhood Begin During Pregnancy? -- What characteristic grants personhood? -- Conscious desire/interests -- Viability -- Quickening/fetal movement -- Sentience -- Human appearance --^