Ethical Responses to abortion utilitarianism Is teleological, concerned with outcomes. Utilitarian would ask whether having an abortion brings about the greatest good. Having an abortion because of financial pressures, other family members’ needs, education, work – any of these reasons may be justified by the hedonistic calculus. Utilitarian’s challenged traditional views that abortion was an ‘evil’ act, arguing Instead that the end Justifies the means. Utilitarian’s generally supports a pro-choice position, and Mill strongly believed In Individual sovereignty: Natural Law
Natural Law asks what our design or purpose Is as humans. One of the primary precepts is to protect and preserve the innocent. This alone leads to a secondary precept ‘Do not abort. ‘ Secondary precepts are absolute deontological principles there are no exceptions. Many Catholics say that this takes the pressure off people faced with difficult decisions, such as a woman whose pregnancy is threatening her life. Abortion is not an option. Imagine a different issue. A transplant surgeon needs a dozen organs to save the lives of 12 people. He sees a healthy man who has all of Hess organs.
A utilitarian calculation says the greater good would be served by secretly killing this man and saving the other 12 people with his organs. Natural Law says that killing an innocent person is not an option, so you don’t have to even consider it. Situation Ethics Situation Ethics grew out of a tradition that viewed abortion as an evil act. Fletcher said we should not get rid of rules – they are a useful guide in most situations. However, the only thing good in itself is love, and we may be required to ‘push our principles aside and do the right thing’.
The Church of England’s position, that abortion is evil but may be the ‘lesser of two evils’ is consistent with a situations approach. If a woman has been raped, abortion may be an act of love. Situation ethics say you should act in the ‘best interests’ of those affected. The real question Is what counts as being in someone’s best interests. Situation Ethics will start from the belief that it is generally in our interests to create families, nurturing and educating our children. However, in exceptional circumstances the situation might demand a different, loving response.
Abortion would be an exception In extreme circumstances, not a method of birth control (as It has become In some countries). Arousal has abortion on demand You won’t find the word ‘abortion’ in the Bible. However, there is a general assumption among Christians that principles of the sanctity of life found in the Bible forbid abortion. To summaries this view, humans are made in the womb by God, in His image, and their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. However, the real question is when sacred human life begins. A careful reading of the Bible seems to suggest hat when the Bible was written, life was seen to begin at birth.
If this is a fair summary of the many different passages that relate to this issue, abortion is not murder. However, even if the fetus does not have the status of a human being, it is clearly something worthy of great respect – this doesn’t Justify abortion The Roman Catholic Church teaches that abortion is always wrong: “Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception; abortion and infanticide are the most abominable of crimes. ” Second Vatican Council, Encyclical Stadium et Esp. Human life is sacred”. Humane Vitae”, 1968: “From the time that the ovum is fertilized a new life is begun which is neither that of the father or the mother. It is the life of a new human being with its own growth. It would never become human if it were not human already” Declaration on Procured Abortion (1974) “The unborn human beings right to live is one of the inalienable human rights” Pope John Paul II, 1985: The Church of England says abortion may be the lesser of two evils: Although the fetus is to be specially respected and protected, nonetheless the life of the fetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother.
Church of England – Board of Social Responsibility Report 1984 Abortion may be acceptable if: There is a risk to the mother’s life or her mental and physical health. The baby is likely to have a serious disability and the mother feels she can not cope. The pregnancy arose as a result of rape. The Church of England says: “To regard the life of the mother as less valuable than that of the unborn child does not consider her ‘right to life’ in terms of her wider roles of wife or mother (actual or attention) of other children, as well in terms of her own person. Abortion, an Ethical Discussion, Church information office 1965 “We affirm that every human life, created in the divine image, is unique… We therefore believe that abortion is an evil… And that abortion on demand would be a very great evil. But we also believe that to withdraw compassion is evil, and in circumstances of extreme distress or need, a very great evil… In an imperfect world the ‘right’ choice is sometimes the lesser of two evils. ”
