POSITION PAPER
SUBMITTED BY:
BANDOY, JAYLLY MITCH E.
The Ethical and Moral Case
Against Abortion
Introduction
Abortion remains a controversial issue, raising ethical and legal concerns about
human rights and bodily autonomy. While some argue that abortion is a fundamental
right, others believe it ends an innocent human life. This paper opposes abortion,
asserting that life begins at conception, the unborn have rights, and alternatives
exist to protect both mother and child.
BACKGROUND / CONTEXT
Abortion is the deliberate termination of pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside
the womb. Legal in some countries under specific conditions, the debate centers on
whether a fetus is a human being with rights. Scientific, religious, and philosophical
perspectives contribute to the ongoing debate.
ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING YOUR POSITION
Argument 1: Life Begins at Conception Claim
▪ Claim:
Human life begins at conception, making abortion the unjust taking of life.
▪ Evidence:
The American College of Pediatricians states that human life begins at fertilization
when a unique genetic code is formed. A fetal heartbeat develops as early as six weeks.
▪ Reasoning:
If life begins at conception, abortion directly ends a human life. Ethical principles
uphold the right to life, making abortion a violation of this fundamental right.
Argument 2: The Unborn Have Rights
▪ Claim:
The fetus is a human being entitled to rights, including the right to life.
▪ Evidence:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "everyone has the right to life."
Some laws recognize fetal rights, such as those penalizing harm to a pregnant woman
resulting in the fetal death.
▪ Reasoning:
If laws protect unborn life in some contexts, the same logic should extend to abortion
laws, ensuring the fetus’s right to life.
Argument 3: Alternatives to Abortion Exist
▪ Claim:
Adoption and social support programs provide better options for unwanted pregnancies.
▪ Evidence:
Over two million couples in the U.S. are waiting to adopt, and social programs
provide support for pregnant women.
▪ Reasoning:
Adoption and financial aid offer solutions that respect both the mother’s situation and
the unborn child’s right to life, making abortion unnecessary.
Counterargument and Rebuttals
Women Have the Right to Bodily Autonomy Rebuttal: While bodily autonomy is
important, rights are not absolute when they harm another human being. Just as
laws prohibit harm against others, abortion should not be allowed when it ends an
innocent life. Furthermore, laws restricting personal choices, such as drug use and
self-harm, demonstrate that autonomy has ethical and legal limits
Conclusion
Abortion is a human rights issue. Scientific evidence confirms that life begins at
conception, and ethical principles support the unborn’s right to life. Bodily autonomy
does not justify ending an innocent life, especially when alternatives like adoption
exist. Instead of promoting abortion, society should focus on providing resources to
help women choose to life.
REFERENCE
American College of Pediatricians. (2017). When human life begins. Retrieved from
https://acpeds.org/position-statements/when-human-life-begins
United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
National Council for Adoption. (2021). Adoption statistics and waiting families. Retrieved from
https://adoptioncouncil.org/adoption-by-the-numbers
