Moral Philosophy Notes
11/20
Why Abortion is Immoral – Don Marquis
-Most abortions are seriously immoral
What makes killing us (normal adult humans) wrong?
2 Incorrect Answers: 1. Is it the fact that killing causes pain to the victim? a. No, sometimes killing can be painless 2. Is it the fact that the loved ones will suffer grief? b. No, some people don’t have loved ones. c. Or loved ones could be glad someone died.
Marquis’s Answer:
-What makes killing us (normal adult humans) wrong is that it robs us of a future, the satisfaction of our desires and the fulfillment of our aims.
The Argument:
Premise 1: What makes killing us wrong is that it robs us of a future of value.
Premise 2: A fetus, whether a person or not, has a future like ours.
Premise 3: Abortion robs a fetus of a future like ours.
Conclusion: Therefore, abortion is wrong for the same reason killing us is wrong.
In his pro-life argument, Marquis assumes that the fetus is a person. A. True B. False
In his pro-life argument, Marquis denies that the fetus is a person. A. True B. False
**-He doesn’t think it is relevant if the fetus is a person or not; neither assumes or denies that the fetus is a person.
**-He thinks that it does have a future.
Marquis’s argument is an extreme pro-life argument. A. True B. False
-Not an extreme view, but a strong one.
The Singer Solution to World Poverty – 1999
-AKA the argument for the obligation to assist those in absolute poverty
In ‘Family, Affluence, and Morality’, singer argued that it is indefensible for affluent people to spend money on luxuries while less fortunate people are starving
–Rachels
Drowning child in shallow rudimental pond
-To save child, he has to get wet/muddy
Premise 1: If we can prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, then we ought to do so.
Premise 2: Absolute poverty is very bad (because of pain,
Why Abortion is Immoral – Don Marquis
-Most abortions are seriously immoral
What makes killing us (normal adult humans) wrong?
2 Incorrect Answers: 1. Is it the fact that killing causes pain to the victim? a. No, sometimes killing can be painless 2. Is it the fact that the loved ones will suffer grief? b. No, some people don’t have loved ones. c. Or loved ones could be glad someone died.
Marquis’s Answer:
-What makes killing us (normal adult humans) wrong is that it robs us of a future, the satisfaction of our desires and the fulfillment of our aims.
The Argument:
Premise 1: What makes killing us wrong is that it robs us of a future of value.
Premise 2: A fetus, whether a person or not, has a future like ours.
Premise 3: Abortion robs a fetus of a future like ours.
Conclusion: Therefore, abortion is wrong for the same reason killing us is wrong.
In his pro-life argument, Marquis assumes that the fetus is a person. A. True B. False
In his pro-life argument, Marquis denies that the fetus is a person. A. True B. False
**-He doesn’t think it is relevant if the fetus is a person or not; neither assumes or denies that the fetus is a person.
**-He thinks that it does have a future.
Marquis’s argument is an extreme pro-life argument. A. True B. False
-Not an extreme view, but a strong one.
The Singer Solution to World Poverty – 1999
-AKA the argument for the obligation to assist those in absolute poverty
In ‘Family, Affluence, and Morality’, singer argued that it is indefensible for affluent people to spend money on luxuries while less fortunate people are starving
–Rachels
Drowning child in shallow rudimental pond
-To save child, he has to get wet/muddy
Premise 1: If we can prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, then we ought to do so.
Premise 2: Absolute poverty is very bad (because of pain,