The debates around the topic of abortions exist a long time and in various societies. In some of them, they are prohibited by the law, in others – because of religious issues. Despite this fact, the practice of abortion exists and is happening due to different circumstances, whereas it is legal or not. Usually, the society is divided into two groups that are either supporting abortions or are totally against them. It has always been a very complicated issue with the possibility to look at it from different perspectives.
As the woman is the carrier of the fetus, the main question and blaming are falling on her person. On one hand it might be seen as a sin and a killing of a child, on the other – this child might be a serious threat to woman’s health or be a result of a rape or simply be unwanted. There is a thick line between all these situations and people are trying to judge from their points of view. However, it is always primary an issue of the woman who is pregnant and not of the society.
What is important here and what is Warren taking in the spotlight is the status of the fetus itself as an active participant in abortion question. I agree that it is important to understand which position the embryo is occupying in order to conclude if abortions are morally permissive or not. When we regard a fetus as a complete human being than the action of abortion almost automatically becomes a murder and an action to judge. However, there is a possibility to use another approach.
First of all, we should analyze what Warren is defining as a person. To her words, only to be genetically alike with humans does not correspond to a human being because it requires some personhood . It is a logical assumption because if we need to prove that abortions are morally not permissive, there should be an explanation that the fetus has all the same moral rights as an adult woman who is carrying it.
In this case, when the fetus regarding previously described characteristics is not a human being, than the choice belongs to a person who really is. Moreover, I regard this choice as a private one, and it means that it belongs to the woman. Going back to the example with the violinist on the bed it is once again proves that there are no prior obligations from outside that should force the person to stay in the bed and help the person out. In such situation there will be a violation not simply against person’s basic rights, but his freedom. I agree, that the woman’s right for the protection of her physical and mental security is prior to potential fetus’s life in this case . It is hard to explain, but such positioning is not putting the woman in the first place in order to neglect the fetus, but to protect her.
There are as well other circumstances that are influencing human choices about the abortion. The way woman got pregnant, her health and moral condition are valuable. The state of health of the fetus and its possible way of development is also a factor to consider. Even more, afterward different social factors are playing their role. These details provoke further discussions about what is morally permissive and acceptable.
The biggest problem which can arise from Warren’s point of view on abortions is the infanticide . I agree that a lot of people who are against abortions in the last months of the pregnancy would defend the position that it can be considered as a complete human being. In my opinion, there is an issue, but we still need to consider that we are still speaking about different states of the fetus: born and unborn. Moreover, it is true that there are some situations when the child is suffering from the birth and will not be able to live long. It is always a hard decision, but when it is impossible to make it yourself, there must be someone, and, in this case it would be the parents of the child, who should take the responsibility. I believe that arguments provided by the author in order to explain why the infanticide is wrong and cannot be permissive are convincing but can be developed even more.
All in all the topic of abortions is debatable and, in my opinion, it will remain open for the discussion for a long time. There is, probably a place for the rethinking of basic concepts as suggesting the author, but it is the society that must choose whereas to make it or not.
Work Cited
Warren, A.M. "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion ." The Monist , 1973: 1-9.
