Alabata, Mark Joshua I.
06/09/2024
BSCE
A Defense of Abortion: A Fetus Future or a Mother’s Choice
Abortion remains the most debated moral issue in the world today. Everyone has his or her say
regarding it, and the argument generally tends to be emotional and complicated. Some believe
that abortion is always wrong because it ends a potential life. Others believe that women should
have the right to choose how to deal with their own bodies (Thomson, 1971). Here, I will be
arguing that abortion is morally acceptable, especially when it is conducted early in pregnancy or
when the woman's life, health, or future is at risk. I will use the principles of feminist ethics and
utilitarianism in making this argument.
Understanding the Issue of Abortion, abortion means ending a pregnancy if the baby is not born
yet. There are people who believe that life begins at conception, thus view abortion as equivalent
to murder (Beckwith, 2007). There are people who believe that the fetus is not yet a whole
person, especially in the first weeks, hence abortion cannot be equated with killing an individual
human (Warren, 1973). I believe that a fetus is like a parasite that it can’t live by itself without
its host, the mother. Fetus is not yet a baby or a human that it cannot be killed, although I also
believe in God in which I'm afraid to disobey one of the commandments.
There are many reasons that women have abortions. Some are too young or not ready to be
mothers. Some were rape victims or incest victims. Some have diseases, or the child has a fatal
disease. In most cases, women have abortions because they don't have enough money to raise a
child and can't give the child the emotions that it deserves. These are all difficult situations, and
we must not judge them too quickly (Guttmacher Institute, 2021).
Feminist Ethics: Respecting Women's Rights and Experiences
Feminist ethics prioritizes care, relationships, and women's experiences. It teaches us to listen to
women's voices and know their real-life experiences. Such a philosophy leans toward women
having the right of decision over their own bodies (Held, 2006).
Women's decisions regarding abortion are never easy. It is always accompanied by fear, tension,
and grief. But denying a woman the choice to decide for herself is to cause her to carry a child
she might not be prepared to carry. This inflicts harm on both her body and mind, prevents her
from education or work, and brings her into poverty. Feminist ethics instructs us that we have to
trust women and assume that they know best about themselves.
Utilitarianism: Choosing That Which Brings Most Good
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Utilitarianism is a moral theory, which is that right action is the one that maximizes happiness
and eliminates pain (Mill, 1863). Following this notion, abortion can be justified as avoiding a
greater evil than it causes good.
For example, if a woman continues with a pregnancy that she cannot take care of, it may lead to
a life of misery for both her and the child. The child may live in poverty, without care and love.
The mother may become depressed or lose her dreams. In such a situation, abortion may prevent
a lot of suffering and misery (Singer, 2011). Utilitarianism enables us to understand that
sometimes allowing abortion is a more ethical and sympathetic choice.
As for addressing counter arguments, certain people believe abortion is unethical since it
involves killing a person. They imply that all fetuses have the right to be born. While this
argument holds water, one should also ask: What kind of life will the child have? What happens
to the mother?
If the pregnancy is the result of rape or if the child would have a life-threatening illness, it would
be a source of great suffering to require the woman to carry the pregnancy. In addition, not all
zygotes become infants. Many spontaneously abort. So life does not start at conception so
simply.
Another reason is that adoption is a better alternative to abortion. While adoption would be better
for some, it still requires that the woman experience pregnancy and birth, which are hazardous,
unpleasant, and emotionally challenging (Thomson, 1971). It is not fair to force a woman to go
through this against her will.
The Importance of Safe and Legal Abortion
Banning abortion does not stop it from happening. It just makes it unsafe. Wherever abortion is
banned or very hard to access, many women get sick or kill themselves with unsafe abortions.
The poorest women suffer the most because they cannot pay to go to another country where
abortion is legal (World Health Organization, 2021).
Legal and safe abortion allows women to get proper medical care. It reduces death and injury
risks and allows women to take back their life. Education and access to birth control are also
important so that more unplanned pregnancies are avoided (Santelli et al., 2017).
As a people, it is our moral duty to stand with women, not against women. It is listening to their
stories and respecting their choices and providing for them the options that they require.Abortion
is a deeply personal decision, and only she can determine what it takes to make her life better.
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We must remember that morality is not just made up of rules. There is care, compassion, and
understanding too. By legalizing abortion, we are not promoting carelessness and
irresponsibility. We are sending a message that we trust women and value their dignity.
As for my conclusion, abortion is a complex matter, but not a matter of life or death. It is a
matter about actual women's lives and difficult decisions. On the basis of feminist ethics and
utilitarianism, we can argue that abortion has to be morally allowed. Women are entitled to make
the choice regarding what happens with their bodies. The taking away of this privilege causes
harm, misery, and injustice.
Instead of humiliating and condemning the women, we should provide them with love,
understanding, and support. Any society that truly respects life is also required to respect the
lives of women
References:
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1. Beckwith, F. J. (2007). Defending life: A moral and legal case against abortion choice.
Cambridge University Press.
2. Guttmacher Institute. (2021). Abortion in the United States: Fact sheet.
https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states
3. Held, V. (2006). The ethics of care: Personal, political, and global. Oxford University
Press.
4. Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
5. Santelli, J. S., Kantor, L. M., Grilo, S. A., Speizer, I. S., Lindberg, L. D., Heitel, J., ... &
Ott, M. A. (2017). Abstinence-only-until-marriage: An updated review of U.S. policies
and programs and their impact. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(3), 273–280.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.05.031
6. Singer, P. (2011). Practical ethics (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
7. Thomson, J. J. (1971). A defense of abortion. Philosophy & Public Affairs, 1(1), 47–66.
8. World Health Organization. (2021). Preventing unsafe abortion.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preventing-unsafe-abortion
