Philosophy
A neighbor’s decision to let his teen daughter abort her unborn fetus
In the opinion of the teen’s father, the notion that individual or human life begins at conception is rather, more based to religious belief and not logically ascertainable or provable biological facts. Therefore, the need to negate the fact that abortion is murder.
He further asserts, the fact that women’s’ position as moral agents of society cannot be questioned underlines there their capability, to assume somewhat soulful, as well as morally inspired decisions about their own bodies. He, therefore, contends that should a woman be denied the freedom to decide personally on when to bear a child, it will amount to nothing else but a position that would be demeaning to women.
This assertion is motivated by the fact that, mandatory child bearing, is nothing but a way of holding women hostage of the will of others, (Mayorga, and Rosa, 2007). According to him, it negates the need for consideration of otherwise fundamentally essential aspects of women (Gibbard, 2008).These aspects have circumstantial factors including life experience as importantly attributed to the woman’s needs.
Dismissing these factors as irrelevant is capable of evoking very disastrous consequences in the lives of innocent children. The contention from the anti-abortion campaigners that the fetus is in the actual sense distinctly separate from the mother and hence a distinct human being; is according to the teen’s father illogical. He explains that biological facts are consistent with the notion that there is total dependence of the fetus on the mother’s body for both life and support. He also asserts that biological evidence adduce to the fact that, the health of the pregnant woman has a direct effect on the health of the fetus. This relationship between a pregnant woman and the fetus can only antagonize at birth.
Emmanuel Kant’s theory of categorical imperative
Kant’s ethical theory is primarily a deontological and consciousness based theory. He primarily is the proponent of this very important ethical theory of all time. Deontology entails the study of duty. The theory contends that it’s rather the motive behind an action and not its consequences that give it a moral worth. From that background, therefore, Kant and the related deontological theorists contend that certain moral and formal criterion or principles provide the basis for the determination of the rightness or wrongness of any action. In that, Kant contends that the rules or principles do not depend on considerations of the empirical nature.
This theory bases on the view that goodwill is the only intrinsically good thing and that its basis derives from the enlightenment rationalism. The categorical imperative is central to the development of this moral law. This theory is applicable to every individual regardless of status, interests or desires. Several ways were based on by Kant in the formulation of the categorical imperative theory. The principle of universalizability which is a vital component of the theory argues that, an action can only assume permissibility if its application to all people does not cause contradictions in a way or the other. He emphasized the fact that human beings are an end in them and, therefore, must not be treated as a means to an end.
Relevant considerations and ultimate conclusion
As pointed out already, Kant’s categorical imperative calls for universalizability of moral statements as well as the will to be universalized. The contention is that should there be a failure to universalize the morality of the statements, and then a moral contradiction to the law of nature arises and, in the same manner if they can’t respond to any criterion to be universalized, they create contradictions to the Law of the Will, (Battery, 2009).
Relating to legalization and universalization of abortion, the implication is that it would eventually wipe out the entire human race, and there would be no anyone left to carry out abortion. On the basis of that analysis, abortion qualifies as a contradiction to the established law of nature, (Chaffee, 2009). Also relating to the theory’s definition, or recognition of human beings as an end in them, and not as a means to an end, Kant argues that the intrinsic value that exists between the foetuses and people cannot merely be seen as possessing instrumental value. Therefore, it’s morally impossible to dispose of any of them for the benefit of the rest. Therefore, basing on the assessment, abortion is not by any means, or in any circumstance morally justified as per the theory of categorical imperative, (Gendler et al., 2008).Though it’s worth noting that, Kant, distinguished beings in fundamentally three categories (i.e.).; People as agents that are rational, people with partial rights as well as things. The category of things included animals, and plants, and that these can be treated as a means to an end, (Chadwick et al., 2007).The contention arises from the fact that, a clear distinction was not made by Kant as to where he classified foetuses as they could easily be treated as things, and, therefore, a means to an end.
The decision to let the teen abort is according to the theory of categorical imperative, as proposed by Emmanuel Kant very immoral, and does not represent the sanity of life. According to him, the sacred nature of human life must be respected. He contended that life starts from conception and, therefore, abortion is morally wrong for it terminates a human life with potential failings.
Relevant theories
A series of theories have been advanced in the past century in an attempt to establish a system whose foundations are coherent with human rights at both national and international level. Despite the efforts, emotionally charged and equally irrationally and violently motivated disagreements on the subject of abortion continue to emerge. There is yet to suffice a clear and common ground between the opponents and proponents of abortion. The ongoing battle on the subject of abortion has evoked theoretical probing and analysis to fully establish a justifiably ground regarding abortion. Influential theories on the subject of abortions have come up, and each has a unique perspective about the concept of abortion.
Theory of life sacredness
It is one of the most famous theories and has existed for a substantially long period. It is inclined towards a pro-life attitude. It embodies various ethical and religious aspects. The theory contends that in no way can abortion be rationalized, as killing an innocent unborn human being is fundamentally immoral regardless of the circumstances or the provisions of the law.
Theory of free-will
Another very relevant theory in the abortion debate is the; “theory of free-will”. This theory is pro-abortion. The proponents of the theory contend that, human beings have the potential to think and act freely and that they also possess free will. Though from the perspective of the Determinists, the idea of free will is seen as an egotistical illusion, and they hold that, it’s not possible for human choice to be self-initiated. The theory of free will is developed by Campbell, and mainly hinges around two unique factors including, self-determined and the environment. Therefore, the theory of free will has a direct emphasis on the moral responsibility of human beiges, (Nuccetelli et al., 2008). It contends that the potentiality and freedom as pertain to the will, illustrate this phenomenon. These theories take simple and generalist attitude towards the subject of abortion. However, such more complex and harder theories like, “theory of investment value”, and the “theory of a person or conscious entity” provide a different elucidated approach to the subject.
Theory of investment value
Viewed from the perspective of investment value, the proponents of this theory contend that the amount of investment and overall value of the fetus determine whether its life should be terminated or not.
Theory of person or conscious entity
Lastly but not the least, a rather different dimension to the analysis of the subject is endeavoured in the “theory of the person or conscious entity”. The proponents of this theory make an attempt to try and spell out all potential aspects attached to abortion. Sufficient attention is particularly paid to all that is elementarily constituent to the problem. A thorough review of such elements as freedom, life, value of investment, parents, as well as the fetus, are rendered a thorough discussion considering the somewhat contradictory as well as conflicting situations associated with these elements. This theory attempts to draw conclusions by asserting that the right to life is essentially naturally inherent and, therefore, a natural capacity and, therefore, a naturally conscious entity.
Conclusion
Abortion is an entanglement of a variety of facts related to emotions, population growth rate as well as economics and yet, on the other hand, religiously, ideologically as well as ethically valued judgments significantly shapes the dynamics of the concept of abortion. However, it’s apparently clear that it remains morally indefensible for any directly intended death of an unborn child as the consequence of procured abortion. On the other hand, theoretical enquiries from a scholarly point of view will continue to provide a basis for a mechanism of policy formulation while appreciating the dynamic nature of the human society.
Sources cited
Chadwick, Ruth, Kuhse, Helga, Landman, & Willem, (2007), The Bioethics Reader, Editor’s Choice Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
Chaffee, J. (2009). The Philosopher’s Way: A Text with Readings, second edition (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Gendler, Tamar Szabó, Susanna Siegel, and Steven M. Cahn, (2008). The Elements of Philosophy: Readings from Past and Present (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008).
Gibbard, Alan, (2008). Thinking How to Live Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
Meagher, Sharon M., ed. (2008).Philosophy and the City: Classic to Contemporary Writings, Albany: State University of New York Press.
Nuccetelli, Susana, and Gary Seay, (2008). Philosophy of Language: The Central Topics,Lanham, MD: Rowman& Littlefield, 2008.
Perez-TeranMayorga, and Rosa Maria, (2007). From Realism to “Realicism:” The Metaphysics of Charles Sanders Peirce (Lanham, MD: Rowman& Littlefield)
Battery, (2009).Encyclopedia Britannica. (pp. 100-101). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica.
