Abortion Ethics and Perspectives

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of women who had abortions cited that having a baby would change their life as a reason for terminating a pregnancy?

  • 74% (correct)
  • 61%
  • 80%
  • 50%

In which educational level is the belief that abortion should be legal in all or most cases the highest?

  • Some college
  • High school or less
  • College grad or more (correct)
  • Postgraduate education

Among women who underwent abortions, what is the percentage of those who stated that they cannot afford a baby now?

  • 80%
  • 73% (correct)
  • 57%
  • 50%

What percentage of adults believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances?

<p>16% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of adults with a high school education or less who believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases?

<p>50% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What fraction of women who had abortions indicated that they were victims of rape as their reason for termination?

<p>1% (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many women stated that they had already completed their childbearing as a reason for their abortion?

<p>38% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many participants believe that Roe v. Wade should not be completely overturned?

<p>69% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits does Mary Anne Warren identify as central to personhood?

<p>Self-awareness (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant criticism of the liberal view on personhood?

<p>It may imply that cognitively impaired individuals are not persons. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of Warren's five traits that characterize personhood?

<p>Cognitive flexibility (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What argument do liberals present regarding cognitively impaired individuals?

<p>They should be valued for their societal contributions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to liberals, what does the denial of personhood to fetuses imply?

<p>Infanticide is morally permissible. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic must a being satisfy to not be considered a person, according to Warren?

<p>Meeting none of the five central traits (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the liberal response to critiques about cognitively impaired individuals highlight?

<p>The uncertainty in their personhood status. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the cluster of characteristics differentiating children and adults from fetuses and infants?

<p>Cognitive and agency-related traits (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main conservative argument against abortion?

<p>Killing an innocent human being is wrong. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What fallacy does the conservative argument against abortion commit, according to critics?

<p>Fallacy of equivocation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the conservative argument, how is 'human being' defined in premise 2?

<p>A biologically human entity. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes the improved argument made by conservatives regarding the unborn?

<p>The unborn is an innocent person from conception. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the conservative claim about the development process of a human being?

<p>Personhood cannot be accurately defined. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is argued to be present at conception that supports the conservative view?

<p>A full complement of genetic information (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is central to the liberal's objection to the conservative's premise 2?

<p>The definition of human being. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What point do conservatives make regarding where to draw the line for personhood?

<p>It would be arbitrary and unsupportable. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of all non-hospital abortions in 2014 were medication abortions?

<p>31% (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups are most likely to believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases?

<p>Unaffiliated (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of adults who believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases?

<p>39% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the provided information, what is the most common reason for having an abortion?

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common psychological consequence for women who have an abortion?

<p>None of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of women experience major complications requiring hospitalization from a first-trimester abortion?

<p>0.5% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the journal that published the study on the psychological impact of abortions?

<p>JAMA Psychiatry (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the content provided?

<p>To provide a comprehensive overview of abortion statistics and public opinion in the United States (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has been a common result of the public debate on abortion?

<p>Violence and irrational arguments. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text as a factor contributing to the complexity of the abortion debate?

<p>Scientific advancements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the passage from Exodus 21:22 about the consequences of causing a miscarriage?

<p>The fetus is not considered a full person. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Aristotle's view on the permissibility of abortion, as referenced in the text?

<p>Abortion is permissible in cases of fetal deformity or overpopulation. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's perspective on the philosophical debate about abortion?

<p>The debate is valuable for its reasoned arguments and thoughtful insights. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the text describe the perspective on abortion in Judaism?

<p>Abortion is permissible to protect the mother's life or health. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these statements accurately reflects how the Hippocratic Oath viewed abortion?

<p>It prohibited the use of means to induce abortion. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the philosophical debate on abortion from the public debate?

<p>The philosophical debate is more focused on reasoned argument and reflection. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary argument made by moderates who reject the notion of fetal personhood?

<p>They believe that the fetus gains moral standing gradually as it develops. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between the moderate view and the conservative view on abortion?

<p>Moderates believe that the fetus gains moral standing gradually, while conservatives believe the fetus is a person from conception. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Judith Jarvis Thomson support her argument that even if a fetus is a person, abortion may still be justified?

<p>She argues that a woman's right to bodily autonomy supersedes the fetus's right to life. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Thomson's violinist analogy?

<p>To demonstrate that a person's right to life does not necessarily entail a right to use another person's body. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase “the unborn’s right to life is not absolute” mean in the context of Thomson's argument?

<p>The fetus has a right to life, but it is not as strong as the mother's right to bodily autonomy. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following views does Thomson's argument support?

<p>A fetus may have a right to life, but this right is not absolute, and it can be overridden by a woman's right to bodily autonomy. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do moderates who argue for gradual development of fetal rights differ from Thomson in their approach to abortion?

<p>Moderates believe the fetus has a right to life based on its development, while Thomson focuses more on the mother's bodily autonomy. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential critique of Thomson's violinist analogy?

<p>The analogy is too simplistic and does not adequately capture the complexity of the abortion debate. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Abortion

The termination of pregnancy through various methods.

Bioethics

The study of ethical issues in biology and medicine.

Philosophical Debate

Discussion among thinkers about moral claims.

Hippocratic Oath

An ethical guide for physicians that includes a prohibition on abortions.

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Exodus 21:22

A biblical passage implying the fetus is not a full person.

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Judaism and Abortion

Judaism permits abortion if the mother’s life is at risk.

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Aristotle's View

Advocated for abortion in cases of excess children or deformity.

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Cultural Views on Abortion

Perspectives on abortion vary significantly across cultures and time.

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Abortion legality by education

Percentage of adults supporting abortion legality varies with education level.

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Women under 25

Over half of abortions are performed on women under 25 years old.

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Reasons for abortions

Common reasons women give for terminating a pregnancy include life changes and financial issues.

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Pro-choice vs Pro-life

Americans are roughly equally divided between pro-choice and pro-life viewpoints.

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Single mothers

48% of women cite not wanting to be a single mother as a reason for abortion.

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Teen abortions

Almost 20% of women who have abortions are teenagers.

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Roe v. Wade sentiment

69% of Americans do not want Roe v. Wade completely overturned.

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Marital status and abortion

57% of abortions occur in women who have never married.

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Conservative Argument Against Abortion

The belief that abortion is wrong because it kills an innocent human being.

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Fallacy of Equivocation

An argument that uses a term with different meanings in different premises, leading to invalid conclusions.

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Human Being vs. Person

The distinction between a biologically human entity and a being with moral rights (personhood).

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The Revised Conservative Argument

  1. Killing an innocent person is wrong; 2. The unborn is an innocent person from conception; 3. Therefore, killing the unborn is wrong.
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Premise 2 Importance

The crux of the conservative argument, asserting the unborn as an innocent person from conception.

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No Clear Nonperson/Person Distinction

The claim there is no obvious point that clearly defines when personhood begins during development.

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Genetic Information at Conception

The argument that personhood begins at conception due to the presence of full genetic information.

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Right to Life

The moral or legal entitlement to live, asserted as beginning at conception by some conservatives.

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Personhood

The status of being recognized as a person, which involves certain traits or characteristics.

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Mary Anne Warren's traits

Five key characteristics that define personhood according to Warren: consciousness, reasoning, self-motivated activity, communication, and self-awareness.

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Consciousness

The awareness of oneself and the ability to feel pain, a key trait of personhood.

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Reasoning

The ability to think logically and make judgments, considered essential for personhood.

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Cognitive impairment

Conditions like dementia or intellectual disability that may challenge definitions of personhood.

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Liberal perspective on personhood

A view that emphasizes traits like consciousness and reasoning, asserting many beings do not meet these criteria.

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Infanticide argument

The challenge that if fetuses are not persons, then infants may not be either, leading to moral permissibility of killing them.

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Characteristics distinguishing personhood

Cluster of traits such as agency, self-concept, and future projection that differentiate persons from non-persons.

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First-trimester abortion complications

Fewer than 0.5% experience major complications requiring hospitalization.

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Long-term risks of first-trimester abortions

Little to no long-term risks include infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and birth defects.

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Medication abortions in 2014

31% of nonhospital abortions were medication abortions.

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Common reasons for abortion

Top reasons include concern for others, financial issues, and interference with life.

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Mental health post-abortion study

Women who had abortions did not show more mental health issues than those denied.

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Public opinion on abortion legality

59% say abortion should be legal in most cases; 39% say illegal.

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Abortion opinion by religious affiliation

Opinions vary significantly; e.g., 21% of White evangelicals support legality.

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Abortion opinion by political affiliation

Views on legality differ by party; Republicans lean more towards illegal.

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Moderates' View on Fetal Rights

Moderates argue that fetal moral standing increases gradually during development.

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Indistinct Threshold

A stage in fetal development where moral standing increases significantly, typically when sentience emerges.

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Judith Jarvis Thomson

Philosopher known for arguing abortion can be morally justified regardless of fetal personhood.

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Fetal Personhood Controversy

Debate over whether a fetus is considered a person from conception with full rights.

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Violinist Analogy

Thomson's thought experiment comparing pregnancy to being connected to an unconscious violinist needing life support.

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Unauthorized Use of Body

The notion that a fetus cannot claim rights to the mother's body without consent.

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Mother's Right of Self-Defense

The argument that a mother has the right to protect her own body from unwanted intrusion.

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Study Notes

Abortion

  • Abortion is a highly contentious issue in bioethics, dividing public opinion and influencing political discourse.
  • Philosophers debate the morality of abortion through reasoned argument, though consensus remains elusive.
  • Ancient views on abortion varied significantly across cultures, with some condemning and others recommending the practice.
  • The Hippocratic Oath discouraged abortifacients, but many physicians ignored this prohibition.
  • Hebrew and Christian scriptures do not explicitly denounce abortion and do not designate the fetus as a person.
  • Exodus Chapter 21 suggests the unborn entity isn't considered a fully human being until birth in Judaism.
  • Jewish law allows abortion if the fetus threatens the mother's health or life, but not for genetic reasons.
  • Christians often condemn abortion, but views on when personhood begins have evolved over time.
  • Historically, the Catholic Church viewed ensoulment (and thus personhood) as occurring weeks after conception and not at conception. More recently, the Church maintains personhood begins at conception.

U.S. Abortion Facts

  • About half of pregnancies in 2011 were unintended.
  • Abortion rates were lower in 2014 than in 1973.
  • Adolescent and young women accounted for a significant portion of abortion procedures in 2014.
  • Religious affiliations varied among abortion patients in 2014.
  • Contraception use was common among women who had abortions in 2014.
  • First-trimester abortions present minimal long-term health risks.
  • Medication abortions accounted for a substantial portion of non-hospital abortions in 2014.
  • Common reasons for abortion include financial concerns, difficulties balancing it with work/school or caring for dependents, and issues of personal well-being.

Abortion and Public Opinion (2021)

  • A large majority of adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
  • Religious affiliation heavily influences views on abortion legality.
  • Party identification shows a strong correlation with views on abortion legality.
  • Education level significantly affects opinions on abortion legality.

Abortion in the U.S.

  • Legalized in the United States in 1973.
  • The Roe v. Wade decision.
  • Access to abortion regulated according to pregnancy trimester
  • Prior to viability abortion can be restricted but only as long as the restrictions do not impose undue burden on the ability of a woman to get an abortion.
  • Abortion before viability is legal in the US.
  • The concept of "viability" is crucial in the discussion of abortion legality and when gestational limitations may occur.
  • Court opinions have repeatedly clarified the legal parameters and limitations
  • Debate on gestational limits for abortion.

Abortion and Fetal Personhood

  • Moderate positions in the debate typically fall between either complete acceptance of the fetus as a person or minimal consideration of a fetus' claim to personhood.
  • Debate on the precise time when a fetus becomes a person continues.
  • The ability of a fetus to experience pain is debated.
  • Medical consensus on fetal pain development is central to both political and ethical views.
  • Philosophical arguments about personhood and moral rights as they relate to abortion differ among people, and even amongst specific stances on the subject.

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