Violinist Example Would it be morally wrong to unhook violinist, - - PDF document

Thomson on Abortion June 10 1 Phil 240: Ethics

Thomson on Abortion Good Quiz Question

Thomson is mainly writing in defense of abortion, as the title of her essay indicates. But she does not think abortion is morally okay in all cases. Name two situations where Thomson would regard killing the fetus as immoral and briefly explain why she would regard killing the fetus as wrong in those two cases. Bonus point: third situation where abortion is immoral and why.

Violinist Example

Would it be morally wrong to unhook

violinist, thereby killing him?

Violinist is clearly a person with right to

life.

Is staying in bed with violinist morally

similar to pregnancy?

Abortion When Mother’s Life At Stake (sections 1-2)

OK to kill another person to save own life If person A is trying to kill B, B can kill A If person A tells B, “I will kill you unless you

kill person C, it’s immoral for B to kill C.

Why?

Thomson on Abortion June 10 2 Phil 240: Ethics

But Violinist Isn’t Threatening Mother’s Life

When Are We Morally Obligated to Save Life of Another Person?

Minimal decency.

– ALWAYS morally obligated to save a life when no real sacrifice – No reference to rights, commitment, invitation.

Right to life.

Must examine more carefully what it implies.

But Violinist Isn’t Threatening Mother’s Life. How Does Thomson Respond to This?

The fetus is a person. All persons have a right to life. (Therefore) The fetus has a right to life. Therefore killing the fetus is immoral (unless

needed to save your life)

How Does Thomson Respond?

The fetus is a person. All persons have a right to life. (Therefore) The fetus has a right to life. Needed: an understanding of what the right to

life implies

Therefore killing the fetus is immoral

Thomson on Abortion June 10 3 Phil 240: Ethics

Two Obligations to Save Lives

Minimal decency: always obligated when

the sacrifice is minimal (“no big deal”)

– No consideration of rights, justice, invitation – Full term pregnancy is always more than minimal decency, but if pregnancy were an hour or day, minimal decency would require completion.

Respect rights

– Completely independent of issues minimal decency – Thomson: fetus has a right to use mother’s body only if she has given fetus that right. – Mother gives fetus right to use her body only if she engages in voluntary sex without good contraception.

The Right to Life

As a positive right, it would imply an

• bligation to give person everything needed

to stay alive.

– Thomson: neither violinist nor fetus has this right against everyone. – Like Arthur, requires contract or commitment

Negative right: does right to life imply a

right NOT to be killed?

Reminders for the Essay

Study the checklist items as you write. Make sure

you are following them.

The paper with checklist stapled is due at

beginning of class on day paper is due.

The checklist must be studied and completed

before class starts.