Abortion Is Immoral
This paper will argue that abortion is not morally permissible. The phrase morally permissible can be explained by the following definition: allowed by principles with respect to what is right and wrong. First, this paper will argue that abortion is immoral and not morally permissible in the religious standpoint. This will be followed by an argument of potential personhood in defense for the above claim. Next it will outline the ‘Future like Ours’ argument that Don Marquis makes in his article “Why Abortion Is Immoral.” It will then refute some common counterarguments that are in favor of abortion such as it being better for the fetus in the long run, and it being the only answer for those who use contraception but still end up pregnant. Finally,
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The first point that I will make is that fetuses do not develop like cars. What I mean by this is fetuses have the potential to actually develop human and personal properties and that is their only potential due to their genetic makeup. They cannot be turned into anything else whereas parts to a car can be melted down and reshaped to become objects that do not relate to a car in any way. Another point is that of Peter Kreeft in his article “Human Personhood Begins at Conception.” He states that those who say fetuses and zygotes are not persons say this functionally, by defining a person based on their functions and behavior, especially when they claim that zygotes cannot reason, choose, or communicate, etc. The issue with this functional claim is that it lacks common sense, which more often than not, distinguishes between what one is and what one does thus between being a person and functioning as a person. This is like saying we are not persons when we are in a deep sleep, in a coma, and in early infancy, which we do not agree with. Zygotes must be human beings in order to grow human brains and develop human body parts. Kreeft also states the following: “One cannot function as a person without being a person, but one can surely be a person without functioning as a person.” If personhood was a developing thing, like so many prochoice advocates like to point out, then, in actuality, we are never fully persons because we are constantly growing throughout our life, whether it be physically or mentally. An argument that supports the claim that abortion is morally impermissible without making an appeal to religion nor to personhood is Don Marquis’ ‘Future like Ours’ argument from his article “Why Abortion is Immoral.” Nowhere in his article does he mention religion nor
The first point that I will make is that fetuses do not develop like cars. What I mean by this is fetuses have the potential to actually develop human and personal properties and that is their only potential due to their genetic makeup. They cannot be turned into anything else whereas parts to a car can be melted down and reshaped to become objects that do not relate to a car in any way. Another point is that of Peter Kreeft in his article “Human Personhood Begins at Conception.” He states that those who say fetuses and zygotes are not persons say this functionally, by defining a person based on their functions and behavior, especially when they claim that zygotes cannot reason, choose, or communicate, etc. The issue with this functional claim is that it lacks common sense, which more often than not, distinguishes between what one is and what one does thus between being a person and functioning as a person. This is like saying we are not persons when we are in a deep sleep, in a coma, and in early infancy, which we do not agree with. Zygotes must be human beings in order to grow human brains and develop human body parts. Kreeft also states the following: “One cannot function as a person without being a person, but one can surely be a person without functioning as a person.” If personhood was a developing thing, like so many prochoice advocates like to point out, then, in actuality, we are never fully persons because we are constantly growing throughout our life, whether it be physically or mentally. An argument that supports the claim that abortion is morally impermissible without making an appeal to religion nor to personhood is Don Marquis’ ‘Future like Ours’ argument from his article “Why Abortion is Immoral.” Nowhere in his article does he mention religion nor