This document provides a rational analysis of common arguments in the abortion debate. It summarizes Mary Anne Warren's argument that fetuses are not persons due to a lack of certain functional abilities, but argues this is problematic and question-begging. It also examines Judith Jarvis Thomson's violinist analogy argument for abortion, but finds the analogy is false and inconsistent. The document aims to clear confusion in abortion debates through reason and facts, demonstrating popular pro-abortion arguments cannot justify abortion when subjected to rational scrutiny.
Abortion and Religious Freedom - speech to Lifespan meetingAl Lemmo
This document summarizes a speech given by Al Lemmo on the philosophy and tactics of the abortion rights movement. The key points made in the speech include:
1) Abortion rights advocates claim that determining when life begins is a religious question rather than a scientific one, in an effort to introduce confusion and doubt. However, scientifically life begins at conception.
2) The Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade introduced further confusion by claiming medicine, philosophy and theology must agree on when life begins, avoiding the key question of whether abortion ends a human life.
3) The abortion rights movement employs tactics similar to those used in George Orwell's 1984, such as claiming "war is peace" in their
NDU Term Paper | Human Though - Morality Of AbortionNaja Faysal
The document discusses the complex issue of abortion morality from multiple perspectives. It examines arguments that a fetus has rights as a human being, but also arguments that personhood requiring mental capacities makes the morality of abortion dependent on fetal development. While some view abortion as equivalent to murder, others justify it under principles of self-defense or acceptable circumstances. The document also notes that both "pro-life" and "pro-choice" positions oversimplify debates around related issues like sexual education and parental involvement.
Concerning the Moral Status of the Early Human EmbryoMatthew Laird
Today with the incredible advances in the areas of biotechnology and genetics, biomedical research has the capacity to produce new technologies that could intervene in human health in ways unthinkable just decades ago. With the production of new gene therapies and treatments, the future of human health seems to hold much promise. However, many of these possible treatments would be the product of embryonic stem cell research and would come at the cost of the destruction of countless human embryos. Thus, the possible healing power of embryonic stem cell therapies must be weighed against the potential harm that would come to these embryos. I argue in favor of the moral status of the early human embryo against the twinning/fusion argument of Prof. Thomas A. Sharon of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The document summarizes Judith Thomson's thought experiment about waking up back-to-back with an unconscious violinist who needs to be connected to your kidneys to survive. It then discusses Mary Warren's permissive view that abortion is morally permissible at any stage. Warren argues that fetuses lack characteristics like consciousness and self-awareness that make one a "person". The document also summarizes objections to Warren's position and Don Marquis' argument that abortion deprives a fetus of its future like life, making it prima facie seriously wrong.
Russ Shafer-Landau is a professor of philosophy who has authored and edited several books on ethics. The document discusses two types of ethical subjectivism: normative and meta-ethical. Normative subjectivism holds that an act is morally right if the person judging approves of it. Meta-ethical subjectivism claims that moral judgments cannot be true or false. The document presents arguments for each view and considers objections, such as disagreement in ethics not proving lack of objective truth and moral judgments potentially being factual beliefs that do not intrinsically motivate.
The document discusses where hypotheses come from in scientific research. It begins by defining a hypothesis as a suggested explanation for an observable phenomenon, event, or scientific problem that can be tested. Hypotheses are generated through a variety of methods, including making logical guesses based on prior knowledge, observing patterns in natural phenomena, and testing ideas to find connections between variables. The document emphasizes that hypotheses allow scientists to make predictions that can be empirically tested, with hypotheses that are supported being elevated to theories and those not supported being rejected or refined.
The document discusses the morality of abortion and infanticide. It argues that the fundamental objection to these practices is that human fetuses and infants have a right to life. However, the author aims to define what properties something must have in order to possess a serious right to life. The author argues that human fetuses and infants do not satisfy this condition, and therefore do not have a right to life. As a result, abortion and infanticide may be morally acceptable practices.
1
Running head: REVIEW PAPER
Alisebeth Nelson
Argosy University Twin Cities
Advanced General Psychology
PSY492
Review Paper – Draft of Literature Findings
M2A3
June 2016
Abstract
This paper discusses the similarities, differences, and content of 10 articles and other resources the report and discuss the findings of research that has been done on the Psychology of Evil. The idea of a person being completely “evil” is still a new idea in psychology and all of the main research on this has been done within the past 70 years, so as of right now there is now hard proof that someone can really truly be “evil.” Most of the research done has been done based on the idea of an authority figure being the main reason why someone may do an evil task, not one on single person doing an evil thing on their own recognizance. This paper focuses on experiments performed by Milgram and Zimbardo and their findings, but also includes discussions from other sources.
The Psychology of Evil
There have been many discussions based on the research done to prove that humans can be and are instinctively evil beings. However, most of the research that has been presented to us has been performed with some type of authority that wills the participants to perform the “evil” acts. Becker states in his article “little effort has been made in psychology and psychiatry to study pathologies that afflict, not the aberrant neurotic or psychotic individual or social group, but the greater population of the psychologically normal” (2008). I would have to say that based on my schooling and the personal research that I have done that I would agree with this statement. All too often, any research performed to test the psychology behind good and evil only includes what we would call a “normal” individual; someone who has no type of psychotic diagnosis. Now if these experiments were tested on individual who was diagnosed with Antisocial or Borderline Personality Disorder, would the outcomes have been different? Becker states in this article that he believes that to be so. In this article he mainly focuses on Nazi leaders during the holocaust.
Chirico writes an article that is 22 chapters long that is divided in 5 sections to study this concept: “Basic issues and Controversies,” “Motivation and Cognitive Processes,” “Developmental, Personality and Clinical Aspects,” “Good and Evil,” and “Synthesis” (2011). Chirico starts his analysis with the main question that so many of us ask; “Why is there evil?” Chirico studies focus mainly on whether or not evil is a normal human condition or simply a side effect of mental illness. He also looks into the schemas of cognitions and morality.
Kadar’s article discusses a very interesting theory that the central goal of ecological psychology is for humans to create coping mechanisms to deal with everyday tasks, and sometime that these coping mechanisms can include evil behaviors. He states that sometimes an evil act ...
Abortion and Religious Freedom - speech to Lifespan meetingAl Lemmo
This document summarizes a speech given by Al Lemmo on the philosophy and tactics of the abortion rights movement. The key points made in the speech include:
1) Abortion rights advocates claim that determining when life begins is a religious question rather than a scientific one, in an effort to introduce confusion and doubt. However, scientifically life begins at conception.
2) The Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade introduced further confusion by claiming medicine, philosophy and theology must agree on when life begins, avoiding the key question of whether abortion ends a human life.
3) The abortion rights movement employs tactics similar to those used in George Orwell's 1984, such as claiming "war is peace" in their
NDU Term Paper | Human Though - Morality Of AbortionNaja Faysal
The document discusses the complex issue of abortion morality from multiple perspectives. It examines arguments that a fetus has rights as a human being, but also arguments that personhood requiring mental capacities makes the morality of abortion dependent on fetal development. While some view abortion as equivalent to murder, others justify it under principles of self-defense or acceptable circumstances. The document also notes that both "pro-life" and "pro-choice" positions oversimplify debates around related issues like sexual education and parental involvement.
Concerning the Moral Status of the Early Human EmbryoMatthew Laird
Today with the incredible advances in the areas of biotechnology and genetics, biomedical research has the capacity to produce new technologies that could intervene in human health in ways unthinkable just decades ago. With the production of new gene therapies and treatments, the future of human health seems to hold much promise. However, many of these possible treatments would be the product of embryonic stem cell research and would come at the cost of the destruction of countless human embryos. Thus, the possible healing power of embryonic stem cell therapies must be weighed against the potential harm that would come to these embryos. I argue in favor of the moral status of the early human embryo against the twinning/fusion argument of Prof. Thomas A. Sharon of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The document summarizes Judith Thomson's thought experiment about waking up back-to-back with an unconscious violinist who needs to be connected to your kidneys to survive. It then discusses Mary Warren's permissive view that abortion is morally permissible at any stage. Warren argues that fetuses lack characteristics like consciousness and self-awareness that make one a "person". The document also summarizes objections to Warren's position and Don Marquis' argument that abortion deprives a fetus of its future like life, making it prima facie seriously wrong.
Russ Shafer-Landau is a professor of philosophy who has authored and edited several books on ethics. The document discusses two types of ethical subjectivism: normative and meta-ethical. Normative subjectivism holds that an act is morally right if the person judging approves of it. Meta-ethical subjectivism claims that moral judgments cannot be true or false. The document presents arguments for each view and considers objections, such as disagreement in ethics not proving lack of objective truth and moral judgments potentially being factual beliefs that do not intrinsically motivate.
The document discusses where hypotheses come from in scientific research. It begins by defining a hypothesis as a suggested explanation for an observable phenomenon, event, or scientific problem that can be tested. Hypotheses are generated through a variety of methods, including making logical guesses based on prior knowledge, observing patterns in natural phenomena, and testing ideas to find connections between variables. The document emphasizes that hypotheses allow scientists to make predictions that can be empirically tested, with hypotheses that are supported being elevated to theories and those not supported being rejected or refined.
The document discusses the morality of abortion and infanticide. It argues that the fundamental objection to these practices is that human fetuses and infants have a right to life. However, the author aims to define what properties something must have in order to possess a serious right to life. The author argues that human fetuses and infants do not satisfy this condition, and therefore do not have a right to life. As a result, abortion and infanticide may be morally acceptable practices.
1
Running head: REVIEW PAPER
Alisebeth Nelson
Argosy University Twin Cities
Advanced General Psychology
PSY492
Review Paper – Draft of Literature Findings
M2A3
June 2016
Abstract
This paper discusses the similarities, differences, and content of 10 articles and other resources the report and discuss the findings of research that has been done on the Psychology of Evil. The idea of a person being completely “evil” is still a new idea in psychology and all of the main research on this has been done within the past 70 years, so as of right now there is now hard proof that someone can really truly be “evil.” Most of the research done has been done based on the idea of an authority figure being the main reason why someone may do an evil task, not one on single person doing an evil thing on their own recognizance. This paper focuses on experiments performed by Milgram and Zimbardo and their findings, but also includes discussions from other sources.
The Psychology of Evil
There have been many discussions based on the research done to prove that humans can be and are instinctively evil beings. However, most of the research that has been presented to us has been performed with some type of authority that wills the participants to perform the “evil” acts. Becker states in his article “little effort has been made in psychology and psychiatry to study pathologies that afflict, not the aberrant neurotic or psychotic individual or social group, but the greater population of the psychologically normal” (2008). I would have to say that based on my schooling and the personal research that I have done that I would agree with this statement. All too often, any research performed to test the psychology behind good and evil only includes what we would call a “normal” individual; someone who has no type of psychotic diagnosis. Now if these experiments were tested on individual who was diagnosed with Antisocial or Borderline Personality Disorder, would the outcomes have been different? Becker states in this article that he believes that to be so. In this article he mainly focuses on Nazi leaders during the holocaust.
Chirico writes an article that is 22 chapters long that is divided in 5 sections to study this concept: “Basic issues and Controversies,” “Motivation and Cognitive Processes,” “Developmental, Personality and Clinical Aspects,” “Good and Evil,” and “Synthesis” (2011). Chirico starts his analysis with the main question that so many of us ask; “Why is there evil?” Chirico studies focus mainly on whether or not evil is a normal human condition or simply a side effect of mental illness. He also looks into the schemas of cognitions and morality.
Kadar’s article discusses a very interesting theory that the central goal of ecological psychology is for humans to create coping mechanisms to deal with everyday tasks, and sometime that these coping mechanisms can include evil behaviors. He states that sometimes an evil act ...
The document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account; 2) Complete a request form providing instructions, sources, and deadline; 3) Review bids from writers and select one; 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment; 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with the option of a full refund for plagiarized work.
The document provides instructions for creating an account, submitting a request, and receiving writing assistance on the HelpWriting.net website. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with an email and password. 2) Complete a request form with instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with a refund option for plagiarism. The instructions aim to guide users through obtaining writing help on the site.
The document provides instructions for creating an account and submitting a request on the HelpWriting.net website in order to have an assignment written. Users are instructed to complete an order form with details of the assignment, and writers will then bid on the request. The user can then choose a writer, make a deposit, and receive the completed paper which can be revised if needed through the service.
Writing A Case Study Analysis - 500 MBA LeveJoaquin Hamad
This document provides instructions for writing a case study analysis through HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account; 2) Complete an order form with instructions and deadline; 3) Review bids from writers and choose one; 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment; 5) Request revisions until satisfied. It emphasizes original, high-quality work and refunds for plagiarism.
Here are the key points of support that will be provided for the new Kappa chapter
establishment at Bentley University:
- Chapter consultants and leadership consultants will host campus events, tabling sessions, and
informational sessions to educate interested women about Kappa and the membership selection
process.
- Interested women will have the opportunity to participate in Meet Greets to learn more directly from
the consultants.
- The goal is to have 230-250 women participate in the recruitment process for the new Kappa
chapter.
- The coordinator of chapter development assigned to the new chapter will work closely with the
chapter president to develop and implement an overall strategic plan for successful establishment.
- Ongoing
Importance Of Secondary Speech And English EducJoaquin Hamad
The document provides instructions for using the HelpWriting.net website to request writing assistance. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete an order form with instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment. 5) Request revisions until fully satisfied, with a refund option for plagiarism. The document promises original, high-quality content to meet customer needs.
The passage describes a conversation between a divorcing couple, Lon and Luci, about what it means to be an adult. Lon argues that getting older does not necessarily make someone more responsible or mature. He claims people only pretend to be responsible because that is society's expectation of adulthood. Luci responds that while they are both adults, Lon is still childish in how he argues. The narrator then disagrees with Lon's view, stating that taking on responsibilities like careers and homes is necessary for survival as one ages beyond relying on parents.
The document discusses the emergence of nationalism in the 19th century. It began as a replacement for religion as the main unifying force. The French Revolution is seen as the first emergence of modern nationalism. Renaissance and Protestant Reformation ideas also contributed to rising European nationalism. The document then discusses the recorded history of Bangladesh and how it was ruled by various powers until nationalism grew in the 19th century and fueled movements for independence from British rule.
Why Do You Want To Be An Engineer College EssayJoaquin Hamad
The document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account; 2) Complete an order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline; 3) Review bids from writers and select one; 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment; 5) Request revisions until satisfied. The service aims to provide original, high-quality content and offers refunds for plagiarized work.
Red And Blue Lined Handwriting Paper PrintableJoaquin Hamad
This document provides instructions for creating an account and requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one. 4) Receive the paper and review for quality. 5) Request revisions until satisfied. It emphasizes original, high-quality content and refunds for plagiarized work.
The 25 Best Persuasive Writing Prompts Ideas On PiJoaquin Hamad
The document discusses the process of purchasing and implementing a student management system for the Jefferson County School System (JCSS). JCSS is one of the largest school systems in the US, serving around 10,000 students across multiple elementary, middle, and high schools. In 1976, JCSS purchased a DEC PDP 11/34 computer to develop student management, financial, and other applications. Currently, JCSS uses four Dell servers running UNIX connected by a high-speed network. Previously, all applications were developed internally by the director of data processing and two programmers. A new superintendent, Dr. Harvey Greene, was recently hired and plans to modernize the student management system.
Napoleon was a great military leader who modernized the French army and established the Napoleonic Code. He rose to power as a general during the French Revolution and established himself as emperor of France through a series of military victories across Europe. However, his overconfidence led to his downfall, as he was eventually defeated and exiled due to overextending his armies.
1. The document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance on HelpWriting.net in 5 steps: register for an account, complete an order form with instructions and deadline, review bids from writers and choose one, authorize payment after receiving a satisfactory paper, and request revisions if needed.
2. It explains that the platform uses a bidding system where writers submit bids to take on writing assignments, and clients can choose a writer based on qualifications, history, and feedback.
3. Clients can request revisions to ensure satisfaction, and HelpWriting.net promises original, high-quality work with a full refund option for plagiarism.
The document discusses steps to request writing assistance from HelpWriting.net:
1. Create an account with a password and email.
2. Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, deadline, and attaching a sample for style imitation.
3. Review bids from writers for the request based on qualifications, history, and feedback, then pay a deposit to start.
4. Review the completed paper and authorize final payment if satisfied, or request free revisions. HelpWriting ensures original, high-quality work or a full refund.
005 How To Write An Academic Essay ExampleJoaquin Hamad
The document discusses space probes Voyager 1 and 2 and Cassini that were launched in 1977 to investigate the outer planets due to favorable planetary alignment conditions that won't occur again for 175 years. The probes used gravitational assists from planets to propel them further into space as solar energy decreased with distance from the sun. Information collected by the probes advanced understanding of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and their moons.
My Writing A Perfect Paper Immigrant.Com.TwJoaquin Hamad
The document discusses how to write a perfect paper using the website HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account, 2) Complete an order form providing instructions and deadline, 3) Review bids from writers and choose one, 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment, 5) Request revisions if needed, knowing plagiarized work will result in a refund. The website aims to match students with qualified writers to help ensure high-quality, original content papers are produced.
Free Printable Lined Paper With Decorative Borders -Joaquin Hamad
This document discusses transracial adoption and the debates surrounding it. It provides background on transracial adoption, which involves adopting children of a different race. It notes celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who have adopted children of varied races. The document also discusses arguments for and against transracial adoption. Those against it argue children may struggle without learning skills to cope with racism from parents of their own race. Those for it argue love and stability in a family are most important, and same-race matching can delay adoption.
This document discusses the importance of media influences on children and teens. It explains that the media plays a large role in creating social norms and influencing people of all ages through advertisements and television. The media tries to sell certain items to children and teens or influence how they act and look. Now, children and teens are constantly exposed to media influences through various platforms that provide opportunities for connection but also shape attitudes and viewpoints.
The document provides instructions for creating an account and submitting assignment requests on the HelpWriting.net website. Users complete a registration form to set up an account, then fill out a 10-minute order form providing details of the assignment. Writers bid on the request and the user selects a writer. After receiving the paper, the user can request revisions if needed. The website aims to provide original, high-quality content and offers refunds for plagiarized work.
How To Write Speech Essay. How To Write AJoaquin Hamad
The document provides instructions for writing a speech essay in 5 steps:
1. Create an account and complete a request form providing instructions, sources, and deadline.
2. Writers will bid on the request and the client can choose a writer based on qualifications.
3. The client will receive a paper for review and can request revisions if needed.
4. The client can pay for the paper if satisfied or request a refund for plagiarized work.
5. Choosing this service allows clients to get high-quality original content and ensure their needs are met.
The document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account; 2) Complete a request form providing instructions, sources, and deadline; 3) Review bids from writers and select one; 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment; 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with the option of a full refund for plagiarized work.
The document provides instructions for creating an account, submitting a request, and receiving writing assistance on the HelpWriting.net website. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with an email and password. 2) Complete a request form with instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with a refund option for plagiarism. The instructions aim to guide users through obtaining writing help on the site.
The document provides instructions for creating an account and submitting a request on the HelpWriting.net website in order to have an assignment written. Users are instructed to complete an order form with details of the assignment, and writers will then bid on the request. The user can then choose a writer, make a deposit, and receive the completed paper which can be revised if needed through the service.
Writing A Case Study Analysis - 500 MBA LeveJoaquin Hamad
This document provides instructions for writing a case study analysis through HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account; 2) Complete an order form with instructions and deadline; 3) Review bids from writers and choose one; 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment; 5) Request revisions until satisfied. It emphasizes original, high-quality work and refunds for plagiarism.
Here are the key points of support that will be provided for the new Kappa chapter
establishment at Bentley University:
- Chapter consultants and leadership consultants will host campus events, tabling sessions, and
informational sessions to educate interested women about Kappa and the membership selection
process.
- Interested women will have the opportunity to participate in Meet Greets to learn more directly from
the consultants.
- The goal is to have 230-250 women participate in the recruitment process for the new Kappa
chapter.
- The coordinator of chapter development assigned to the new chapter will work closely with the
chapter president to develop and implement an overall strategic plan for successful establishment.
- Ongoing
Importance Of Secondary Speech And English EducJoaquin Hamad
The document provides instructions for using the HelpWriting.net website to request writing assistance. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete an order form with instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment. 5) Request revisions until fully satisfied, with a refund option for plagiarism. The document promises original, high-quality content to meet customer needs.
The passage describes a conversation between a divorcing couple, Lon and Luci, about what it means to be an adult. Lon argues that getting older does not necessarily make someone more responsible or mature. He claims people only pretend to be responsible because that is society's expectation of adulthood. Luci responds that while they are both adults, Lon is still childish in how he argues. The narrator then disagrees with Lon's view, stating that taking on responsibilities like careers and homes is necessary for survival as one ages beyond relying on parents.
The document discusses the emergence of nationalism in the 19th century. It began as a replacement for religion as the main unifying force. The French Revolution is seen as the first emergence of modern nationalism. Renaissance and Protestant Reformation ideas also contributed to rising European nationalism. The document then discusses the recorded history of Bangladesh and how it was ruled by various powers until nationalism grew in the 19th century and fueled movements for independence from British rule.
Why Do You Want To Be An Engineer College EssayJoaquin Hamad
The document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account; 2) Complete an order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline; 3) Review bids from writers and select one; 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment; 5) Request revisions until satisfied. The service aims to provide original, high-quality content and offers refunds for plagiarized work.
Red And Blue Lined Handwriting Paper PrintableJoaquin Hamad
This document provides instructions for creating an account and requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one. 4) Receive the paper and review for quality. 5) Request revisions until satisfied. It emphasizes original, high-quality content and refunds for plagiarized work.
The 25 Best Persuasive Writing Prompts Ideas On PiJoaquin Hamad
The document discusses the process of purchasing and implementing a student management system for the Jefferson County School System (JCSS). JCSS is one of the largest school systems in the US, serving around 10,000 students across multiple elementary, middle, and high schools. In 1976, JCSS purchased a DEC PDP 11/34 computer to develop student management, financial, and other applications. Currently, JCSS uses four Dell servers running UNIX connected by a high-speed network. Previously, all applications were developed internally by the director of data processing and two programmers. A new superintendent, Dr. Harvey Greene, was recently hired and plans to modernize the student management system.
Napoleon was a great military leader who modernized the French army and established the Napoleonic Code. He rose to power as a general during the French Revolution and established himself as emperor of France through a series of military victories across Europe. However, his overconfidence led to his downfall, as he was eventually defeated and exiled due to overextending his armies.
1. The document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance on HelpWriting.net in 5 steps: register for an account, complete an order form with instructions and deadline, review bids from writers and choose one, authorize payment after receiving a satisfactory paper, and request revisions if needed.
2. It explains that the platform uses a bidding system where writers submit bids to take on writing assignments, and clients can choose a writer based on qualifications, history, and feedback.
3. Clients can request revisions to ensure satisfaction, and HelpWriting.net promises original, high-quality work with a full refund option for plagiarism.
The document discusses steps to request writing assistance from HelpWriting.net:
1. Create an account with a password and email.
2. Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, deadline, and attaching a sample for style imitation.
3. Review bids from writers for the request based on qualifications, history, and feedback, then pay a deposit to start.
4. Review the completed paper and authorize final payment if satisfied, or request free revisions. HelpWriting ensures original, high-quality work or a full refund.
005 How To Write An Academic Essay ExampleJoaquin Hamad
The document discusses space probes Voyager 1 and 2 and Cassini that were launched in 1977 to investigate the outer planets due to favorable planetary alignment conditions that won't occur again for 175 years. The probes used gravitational assists from planets to propel them further into space as solar energy decreased with distance from the sun. Information collected by the probes advanced understanding of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and their moons.
My Writing A Perfect Paper Immigrant.Com.TwJoaquin Hamad
The document discusses how to write a perfect paper using the website HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account, 2) Complete an order form providing instructions and deadline, 3) Review bids from writers and choose one, 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment, 5) Request revisions if needed, knowing plagiarized work will result in a refund. The website aims to match students with qualified writers to help ensure high-quality, original content papers are produced.
Free Printable Lined Paper With Decorative Borders -Joaquin Hamad
This document discusses transracial adoption and the debates surrounding it. It provides background on transracial adoption, which involves adopting children of a different race. It notes celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who have adopted children of varied races. The document also discusses arguments for and against transracial adoption. Those against it argue children may struggle without learning skills to cope with racism from parents of their own race. Those for it argue love and stability in a family are most important, and same-race matching can delay adoption.
This document discusses the importance of media influences on children and teens. It explains that the media plays a large role in creating social norms and influencing people of all ages through advertisements and television. The media tries to sell certain items to children and teens or influence how they act and look. Now, children and teens are constantly exposed to media influences through various platforms that provide opportunities for connection but also shape attitudes and viewpoints.
The document provides instructions for creating an account and submitting assignment requests on the HelpWriting.net website. Users complete a registration form to set up an account, then fill out a 10-minute order form providing details of the assignment. Writers bid on the request and the user selects a writer. After receiving the paper, the user can request revisions if needed. The website aims to provide original, high-quality content and offers refunds for plagiarized work.
How To Write Speech Essay. How To Write AJoaquin Hamad
The document provides instructions for writing a speech essay in 5 steps:
1. Create an account and complete a request form providing instructions, sources, and deadline.
2. Writers will bid on the request and the client can choose a writer based on qualifications.
3. The client will receive a paper for review and can request revisions if needed.
4. The client can pay for the paper if satisfied or request a refund for plagiarized work.
5. Choosing this service allows clients to get high-quality original content and ensure their needs are met.
How to Fix the Import Error in the Odoo 17Celine George
An import error occurs when a program fails to import a module or library, disrupting its execution. In languages like Python, this issue arises when the specified module cannot be found or accessed, hindering the program's functionality. Resolving import errors is crucial for maintaining smooth software operation and uninterrupted development processes.
it describes the bony anatomy including the femoral head , acetabulum, labrum . also discusses the capsule , ligaments . muscle that act on the hip joint and the range of motion are outlined. factors affecting hip joint stability and weight transmission through the joint are summarized.
This presentation was provided by Steph Pollock of The American Psychological Association’s Journals Program, and Damita Snow, of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for the initial session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session One: 'Setting Expectations: a DEIA Primer,' was held June 6, 2024.
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
How to Add Chatter in the odoo 17 ERP ModuleCeline George
In Odoo, the chatter is like a chat tool that helps you work together on records. You can leave notes and track things, making it easier to talk with your team and partners. Inside chatter, all communication history, activity, and changes will be displayed.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈতিক সমীক্ষা ২০২৪ [Bangladesh Economic Review 2024 Bangla.pdf] কম্পিউটার , ট্যাব ও স্মার্ট ফোন ভার্সন সহ সম্পূর্ণ বাংলা ই-বুক বা pdf বই " সুচিপত্র ...বুকমার্ক মেনু 🔖 ও হাইপার লিংক মেনু 📝👆 যুক্ত ..
আমাদের সবার জন্য খুব খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি বই ..বিসিএস, ব্যাংক, ইউনিভার্সিটি ভর্তি ও যে কোন প্রতিযোগিতা মূলক পরীক্ষার জন্য এর খুব ইম্পরট্যান্ট একটি বিষয় ...তাছাড়া বাংলাদেশের সাম্প্রতিক যে কোন ডাটা বা তথ্য এই বইতে পাবেন ...
তাই একজন নাগরিক হিসাবে এই তথ্য গুলো আপনার জানা প্রয়োজন ...।
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MATATAG CURRICULUM: ASSESSING THE READINESS OF ELEM. PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS I...NelTorrente
In this research, it concludes that while the readiness of teachers in Caloocan City to implement the MATATAG Curriculum is generally positive, targeted efforts in professional development, resource distribution, support networks, and comprehensive preparation can address the existing gaps and ensure successful curriculum implementation.
How to Manage Your Lost Opportunities in Odoo 17 CRMCeline George
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This presentation includes basic of PCOS their pathology and treatment and also Ayurveda correlation of PCOS and Ayurvedic line of treatment mentioned in classics.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold Method
A Rational Look At The Abortion Controversy
1. Derksen 1
A Rational1
Look at the Abortion Controversy
by Mario Derksen, M.A. cand.
Revised and Updated: May 1, 2003
One of the most hotly contested issues inside and outside of biomedical ethics today
is abortion. The discussion received a new impetus at the release of the controversial
abortion drug RU-486, “a pill to increase access to abortions and let women get them
privately from their own doctor instead of facing shouting protesters at clinics.”2
As is the
case with all controversial issues, there are very passionate people on both sides of the
fence. Unfortunately, a heated discussion on abortion can easily and quickly turn into a
battle of rhetoric rather than a dialectic of reason. But the guiding light in such a
discussion must always be reason, not rhetoric or other fallacies, for only reason can
solve this issue and judge which side is correct.
In this brief essay, I shall attempt to clear away some of the confusion present in
typical abortion debates by cooling the rhetoric with reason enlightened by scientific
facts. Specifically, I will examine two common pro-abortion arguments made by Mary
Anne Warren and Judith Jarvis Thomson and demonstrate that they cannot stand up to
rational scrutiny and therefore fail to justify abortion. I shall also use a
”quadrilemma” argument similar to that of Peter Kreeft’s to show that, aside from all
specific argumentation, abortion cannot be morally justified.
Before even beginning to discuss the issue of abortion, it is imperative to agree upon
a starting point from which to reason. The fact that some people differ even about this
1
The word “rational” is to be understood in the sense of “logically coherent,” such that when I say that
opponents’ arguments are irrational, I mean to suggest that they contain a logical fallacy, false premises or
2. Derksen 2
very point tends to render the pro-abortion and the anti-abortion paradigms somewhat
“incommensurable,” and this is probably one major reason why people are tempted to
arrive at different conclusions about this topic. It seems to me, however, that to start with
the definition of abortion and an examination of the beings involved would be a fair
move.
Abortion is the unnatural termination of a pregnancy by killing (at least) one human
fetus. This definition is not contested, and I think it seems clear that it is correct. Science
confirms that life begins at conception,3
and that this life is human is a—scientific as well
as logical—necessity, because it is the product of two humans, and humans can only
produce humans. Ergo, the fetus involved is human. Secondly, the fetus is, at least
scientifically speaking, a singular and individual organism, as evidenced by his own
unique genetic make-up, which he shares with no other human being on earth (unless he
have an identical twin). There is thus an essential difference between a human fetus and,
say, a tumor or similar parasite. Finally, that the fetus is alive is confirmed through
empirical observation, and hence forcing that life to come to an end involves at least
some sort of killing. Therefore, the unavoidable conclusion is that abortion deliberately
and forcibly puts to death a human being. Again, this definition is uncontested and thus I
shall not dwell on it any further. Rather, I shall now turn to the moral implications
necessarily connected with abortion.
are otherwise not sound. I do not mean to suggest that they are simple gibberish.
2
“Abortion Pill Heads for Clinics,” USA Today, 20 November 2000, Internet edition.
3
Even former Planned Parenthood president Alan Guttmacher admitted as much in his book Planning Your
Family: The Complete Guide to Contraception and Fertility (New York, NY: Macmillan Co., 1964), 28.
Numerous quotes from scientists and physicians that testify that human life begins at conception can be
found in Randy Alcorn, Prolife Answers to Prochoice Arguments, exp. ed. (Sisters, OR: Multnomah
Publishers, 2001), 51-55.
3. Derksen 3
The question that arises is as to whether or not abortion is morally justifiable. It
cannot be wrong by definition, since sometimes there is moral justification for forcibly
putting to death another human being, in such cases as self-defense, just war, or capital
punishment.4
Hence, it is reasonable to raise the question whether abortion might be
another such instance where one is justified in taking a human life.
The pro-abortion side submits that it is, and different arguments have been put
forward to substantiate that claim. A very popular one is the contention that human
fetuses are not persons, and that only persons have a right to life and justice against
others, at least when these others’ rights are at stake. Mary Anne Warren’s essay “On the
Moral and Legal Status of Abortion”5
argues just that. Curiously, though, Warren does
not indicate in her essay why one should accept the view that one ought to be a person in
order to have moral rights in the first place; it seems that she considers it self-evident that
this is so, mentioning only that she thinks “there are very good reasons for not defining
the moral community”6
in such a way that every human being is ipso facto included. Be
that as it may, she asks: “What moral characteristics entitle an entity to be considered a
person?”7
and goes on to list five “traits which are most central to the concept of
personhood”8
in her opinion. They are: (1) consciousness, (2) reasoning, (3) self-
stimulated activity, (4) the capability to communicate, and (5) the presence of self-
concepts and self-awareness.
4
I realize that even this is contested, but I think it is safe to say that most people agree that sometimes
killing another human being is morally justifiable.
5
See Mary Anne Warren, “On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion,” in Tom L. Beauchamp and LeRoy
Walters, eds., Contemporary Issues in Bioethics, 5th
ed. (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company,
1999), 222-231.
6
Warren, “Status of Abortion,” 227; italics added.
7
Warren, “Status of Abortion,” 227.
8
Warren, “Status of Abortion,” 227.
4. Derksen 4
It is here that reason ought to make an objection. While Warren may think that the
categories she lists are sufficient for personhood, I see no reason to believe that they are
necessary. In fact, the author herself admits a few lines later that we do not “need to insist
that any one of these criteria is necessary for personhood.”9
But if not “any one” of them
is necessary, then none of them are, and if that’s the case, what does her argument prove?
And what if one thinks that it is totally unacceptable to define personhood in terms of
functional abilities at all? For Warren’s argument to be forceful, one would have to
presuppose her functionalist paradigm as true, i.e. the basic idea that there even are
criteria a human being must meet in order to be considered a person. But this would be an
instant of question-begging—after all, one could very well adopt the view that all humans
are persons in virtue of their humanity, and thus being human necessarily implies being a
person. I maintain that this alternative view is not only true but also does not carry any
problems with it—Warren’s own objection notwithstanding, as will be shown later.
On the other hand, Warren’s functionalism comes with plenty of problems. For one
thing, even if one agrees with Warren’s position that the functionalist view of human
personhood is true, the criteria proposed by her could be rejected by anyone who
disagrees with them, since they are imposed rather gratuitously, and what is gratuitously
asserted can be just as gratuitously denied.
Secondly, a major problem Warren’s view faces is the fact that it disregards Francis
Beckwith’s argument that “personhood is not something that arises when certain
functions are in place, but rather is something that grounds these functions, whether or
9
Warren, “Status of Abortion,” 227f.; italics given.
5. Derksen 5
not they are ever actualized in the life of a human being,”10
for “to claim that a human
being can be functional, become non-functional, and then return to a state of function is
to assume that there is some underlying personal unity to this individual.”11
What
Beckwith means by this is that, supposing that John Doe has a car accident and becomes
comatose for three months, according to the functionalist view proposed by Warren, one
would have to conclude that while Doe was in the coma, he ceased to be a person since
he didn’t meet any of her proposed five criteria for personhood, and that when he awoke,
he became a person again.
But this is surely absurd. Therefore, Beckwith concludes, “it is intelligible for us to
say that the person who has returned to functional capacity is the same person who was
functional prior to being in a non-functional state and yet continued to exist while not
functioning.”12
There must be some underlying personal unity, then, unless we wish to
say that John Doe before the coma was a different person from the John Doe after the
coma. While this objection to Warren’s position can perhaps be elaborated upon, as it is,
it does present a major obstacle to her notion that human beings must first meet certain
requirements before they can be considered persons, i.e. beings with moral rights.
Earlier I mentioned that Warren does not give us any justification for embracing a
functionalist paradigm as far as personhood is concerned. This statement needs
qualification, however. Warren does mention that the view that personhood is intrinsic to
any human being from the first moment of his existence carries with it the problem that it
10
Francis J. Beckwith, “Abortion, Bioethics, and Personhood: A Philosophical Reflection” (paper from the
Center of Bioethics and Human Dignity at http://www.cbhd.org/resources/aps/beckwith-personhood.htm,
n.d.), 2.
11
Beckwith, “Abortion,” 2.
12
Beckwith, “Abortion,” 2.
6. Derksen 6
makes the traditional syllogism against abortion13
question-begging. But this is false. It
does not make the traditional syllogism any more question-begging than the syllogism
that since Socrates is a man and all men are mortal, therefore Socrates is mortal. The fact
that the conclusion follows with great clarity and ease is not because it begs the question
but because it is a deductive argument—and it is the nature of deduction to render
“obvious” conclusions, since all deduction does is spell out what is already contained in
the premises. Therefore, it should not be surprising that the conclusion of the traditional
anti-abortion syllogism follows with relative ease. And this most certainly does not
disprove the validity of the syllogism or suggest that it contains a fallacy, and hence the
humanity-implies-personhood view is not refuted or infringed upon.
So, what reasons does Warren have to reject the view that humanity implies
personhood? None, really. So, why does she reject it? She rejects it because otherwise
she would have to admit that abortion is impermissible (she agrees, after all, that the
statement “it is wrong to kill innocent human beings” is “a self-evident moral truth”14
),
and this is a conclusion she does not desire. In other words, it seems to me that Warren
rejects the view that humanity necessarily implies personhood (or that being human
suffices to have moral rights) precisely and only because it would make abortion
impermissible. She presupposes that abortion is justified and thus proceeds to select only
such criteria for personhood as allow for her preconceived conclusion, i.e. criteria that are
13
That syllogism goes something along these lines: Deliberately killing innocent human beings is wrong; a
fetus is an innocent human being; hence deliberately killing fetuses is wrong.
14
Warren, “Status of Abortion,” 226.
7. Derksen 7
not met by human fetuses.15
Thus, she has ruled out from the beginning the possibility
that abortion is wrong. But surely this is question-begging!
Of course, not all abortion advocates base their justification of abortion on a lack of
personhood on the part of the preborn human. Some, such as Judith Jarvis Thomson,
argue instead that even if the fetus is a person, abortion can still be morally justified.
Certainly, such a justification, if valid, would make a much more forceful case for
abortion than any attempt to base it on a lack of personhood. Hence, I will now proceed
to examine Judith Thomson’s main argument in her essay “A Defense of Abortion.”16
According to Thomson, we are to imagine a situation in which a violinist with a fatal
kidney disease has been artificially hooked up to you in order to use your kidneys for
nine months. This has been done by the Society of Music Lovers and without your
permission. If you unplugged yourself from this violinist now, he would die, and in that
sense you would be responsible for his death. Inevitably, then, the moral question arises
whether you are morally obligated not to unplug yourself from the violinist for the time
being, even if this causes all sorts of inconveniences for you, such as staying in bed all
day; after all, all “persons have a right to life, and violinists are persons . . . [and] a
person’s right to life outweighs your right to decide what happens in and to your body.”17
This is Thomson’s main contention, and, even if somewhat bizarre, if the analogy
holds which she is obviously drawing between the violinist situation and pregnancy, then
the anti-abortion position would suffer a severe setback. However, it turns out that there
is plenty of evidence to show that Thomson’s violinist analogy is in fact a false analogy
15
Incidentally, Warren’s position, if correct, would justify infanticide, something she tries to deny—
unsuccessfully—in a 1982 postscript to her original essay.
16
Judith Jarvis Thomson, “A Defense of Abortion,” in Beauchamp and Walters, Contemporary Issues in
Bioethics, 202-211.
8. Derksen 8
and therefore fallacious and without rational force. To prove this, I shall now share
several pieces of evidence that demonstrates that Thomson’s “Violinist” is in fact a false
analogy.
First, the most obvious difference is perhaps that by unplugging the violinist, one
would not engage in direct killing but in letting die. The violinist would be killed by a
disease, whereas the fetus is aborted by killing him actively or at least forcibly removing
him from his natural place of safety. It would not be correct, therefore, to treat the two
situations as equal or analogous, because the violinist has a disease which he would die
of, whereas the preborn human does not and would die of active violence done to him.
Another important consideration is that the violinist analogy, if valid, only holds true
for rape cases, that is, in cases where a woman has been forcibly impregnated against her
will, since in the analogy you were actually kidnapped by the Society of Music Lovers,
and it was involuntary therefore. However, as John T. Wilcox points out, “the title of
[Thomson’s] essay is ‘A Defense of Abortion,’ not ‘A Defense of Abortion in Rape
Cases.’”18
Thus, it is misleading and inconsistent to use an analogy that could only hold
for rape cases to argue for a position that does not restrict itself to allowing abortion in
rape cases only.19
Another point is that the violinist incident is artificial, bizarre, and contrived, whereas
pregnancy is the exact opposite—it is most natural and occurs all the time. It is, in fact,
necessary for the propagation of the human race. Says Wilcox: “In Thomson’s essay we
17
Thomson, “A Defense of Abortion,” 203.
18
John T. Wilcox, “Nature as Demonic in Thomson’s Defense of Abortion,” New Scholasticism 63, no. 4
(1989): 472.
19
Thomson’s attempt to argue that an unwanted pregnancy after voluntary sexual intercourse due to
contraceptive failure is equal to an unwanted pregnancy due to rape is nothing short of ridiculous. The
sexual act by nature tends towards pregnancy, i.e., that is the natural purpose of the sexual act, and any
9. Derksen 9
have something as universal and necessary [for reproduction] as pregnancy compared to
something so rare it has never happened and perhaps could never happen.”20
He then
goes on to make the point that it is “at least arguable . . . that the moralities we have
represent some ways of dealing with the realities and regularities of human life; and they
may not fit well the irregularities and impossibilities.” Given that, he concludes that it is
“plausible to regard [the two cases] differently from an ethical point of view . . . [since]
what is appropriate for kidnapped kidney bearers and their violinist parasites might not be
appropriate for mothers and the babes in their wombs.”21
This objection, though perhaps
not necessarily conclusive by itself, is something which should definitely be seriously
taken into consideration when evaluating the strength of Thomson’s violinist analogy.
A fourth objection that may be raised to Thomson’s analogy is the fact that the two
cases are disanalogous inasmuch as unplugging the violinist is in no way comparable to
the methods used for abortions. While the different methods vary, they all involve a very
cruel killing of the fetus, whether it be through cutting, suctioning, or intoxication. Yet, at
no abortion during any point of gestation is the fetus given pain relief, even though the
“centers necessary for pain perception develop early in the second trimester,”22
and so
justice would require at least an attempt to relieve fetal suffering, especially in late-term
abortions, where “[f]orcibly incising the cranium with a [sic] scissors and then suctioning
out the intracranial contents is certainly excruciatingly painful.”23
The point here is not to
be graphic, but to point out that there is a fundamental difference between such a
woman who engages in this act voluntarily, with or without contraception, thereby willingly opens herself
to pregnancy.
20
Wilcox, “Nature as Demonic,” 468.
21
Wilcox, “Nature as Demonic,” 468f.
22
M. LeRoy Sprang and Mark G. Neerhof, “Rationale for Banning Abortions Late in Pregnancy,” Journal
of the American Medical Association 280, no. 8 (1998): 745.
23
Sprang and Neerhof, “Banning Abortions,” 745.
10. Derksen 10
procedure, which is artificial, deliberate, and unnecessarily painful, and unplugging the
violinist, which is nothing other than letting him die.
These are just some of the objections one can raise against Thomson’s analogy of the
violinist, though multiplying them would extend the scope of this paper. I think, however,
that the above objections are illustrative of some serious insufficiencies in Thomson’s
argument, such that they take away from it the persuasive force that it may appear to have
at first glance.
There are, without a doubt, many more arguments in favor of abortion that deserve
careful analysis and critical examination but that I cannot treat here. But whatever these
may be, I wish to offer one last objection to the pro-abortion position in general, an
objection which looks at abortion also from an epistemological point-of-view and
resembles in a way Blaise Pascal’s famous “wager.” It is an argument similar to that
developed by Peter Kreeft,24
and it can be judged on its own merits, even if one were to
leave all previous argumentation aside.
The argument is simply this. In the abortion debate, there are only four possible
scenarios which could obtain, namely that (1) abortion is right and we know it; (2)
abortion is wrong and we know it; (3) abortion is right and we don’t know it; and (4)
abortion is wrong and we don’t know it. No other option is possible.25
So let us suppose
that (1) obtains. In this instance, abortion would be morally justified, and no problem
could arise. However, we know that (1) is false, for, obviously, there is serious
controversy about abortion, and hence we do not “know” that abortion is morally right. If
24
Cf. Peter Kreeft, Making Choices: Practical Wisdom for Everyday Moral Decisions (Ann Arbor, MI:
Servant Publications, 1990), 119-21.
25
One might object that “abortion is morally neutral” is another possibility, but that which is morally
neutral is morally permissible.
11. Derksen 11
one of the other three scenarios should obtain, however, then abortion would be morally
wrong, for if (2) obtains, then abortion is murder; if (3) obtains, then abortion is criminal
negligence; and if (4) obtains, abortion is manslaughter.
I should perhaps elaborate on (3). Suppose you are a truck driver, and while you are
driving at night, you suddenly see in front of you what looks like a man lying on the road,
although you are not sure that it’s a man, for it might actually be a dummy. From your
view, you simply cannot tell. Would it be morally justifiable for you to run over this
“person”? Clearly, the answer is no. The very fact that you don’t know whether it’s a
human or a dummy obliges you not to run over it in order to be on the safe side, and to do
otherwise would be morally reprehensible. This is how we are to understand (3), that not
knowing whether abortion is right or wrong when in fact it is right is still morally
inadmissible, for the uncertainty obliges us to err on the side of life. Therefore, anyone
who would argue for abortion on the premise that we just don’t know whether the fetus is
a human (or person) or not, is clearly wrong, as such a premise warrants the exact
opposite conclusion, namely, that abortions must not be performed.
Thus, this “quadrilemma” argument establishes that even if we ignore all other
rational arguments, in three out of four possible scenarios, abortion is morally wrong. But
this number—namely, 75%—is sufficiently high to warrant the claim that abortions
ought not to be performed.
Given all of the above, I propose that abortion, at least as far as the criticized
arguments from Warren’s and Thomson’s essays are concerned, cannot be morally
justified. On the contrary, the traditional anti-abortion syllogism remains as intact as ever
and retains its moral force. Since abortion involves human life (on both sides), it is a very
12. Derksen 12
serious issue and must be very forcefully and convincingly argued for—by both sides.
The principle of non-contradiction requires that only one of the two sides of the issue is
right, and, necessarily, the other must be wrong, very wrong. Again, then, in order to
come to a resolution of this issue, the primary requirement is that we let reason, not
rhetoric, be our guide to show us what is morally right and what is morally wrong. We
must go wherever reason leads us, even if the conclusion be uncomfortable or
inconvenient.
13. Derksen 13
Works Cited
“Abortion Pill Heads for Clinics.” USA Today, 20 November 2000. Internet edition.
Alcorn, Randy. Prolife Answers to Prochoice Arguments, expanded edition. Sisters, OR:
Multnomah Publishers, 2001.
Beckwith, Francis J. “Abortion, Bioethics, and Personhood: A Philosophical Reflection.”
Paper from the Center of Bioethics and Human Dignity at
http://www.cbhd.org/resources/aps/beckwith-personhood.htm, n.d.
Guttmacher, Alan F. Planning Your Family: The Complete Guide to Contraception and
Fertility. New York, NY: Macmillan Co., 1964.
Kreeft, Peter. Making Choices: Practical Wisdom for Everyday Moral Decisions. Ann
Arbor, MI: Servant Books, 1990.
Sprang, M. LeRoy, and Mark G. Neerhof. “Rationale for Banning Abortions Late in
Pregnancy.” Journal of the American Medical Association 280, no. 8 (1998): 744-
747.
Thomson, Judith Jarvis. “A Defense of Abortion. In Tom L. Beauchamp and LeRoy
Walters, eds. Contemporary Issues in Bioethics. 5th
ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Publishing Company, 1999, 202-211.
Warren, Mary Anne. “On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion.” In Tom L.
Beauchamp and LeRoy Walters, eds. Contemporary Issues in Bioethics. 5th
ed.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999, 222-231.
Wilcox, John T. “Nature as Demonic in Thomson’s Defense of Abortion.” New
Scholasticism 63, no. 4 (1989): 463-484.