Summary: The Morality Of Abortion

Abortion is defined simply as the early termination of a pregnancy. This topic is a very controversial subject when it comes to the reality on whether or not this action is morally right or morally wrong. There are to two sides in abortion labeled as pro-life or conservatives and pro-choice or liberals. As the names imply pro-life supporters are against abortion and pro-choice supporters are for the option of abortion. This debate of morality has been going on for hundreds of years now, but gained massive popularity when it was legalized by the United States (US) Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, forty three years ago. Abortion is a heavily discussed ethical issue and laws that would or could prohibit this right would restrict the freedom
One side of the argument states that the fetus is not a person until it has actually been born and this side is generally referred to the conservatives or pro-life side. The other perspective believes that a fetus is a life at the beginning of conception and they are generally referred as the liberals or pro-choice side. In the article, Detailed Record Title: Abortion and Neonaticide: Ethics, Practice and Policy in Four Nations, Michael L. Gross states,”At the beginning of the third trimester or age of viability, the American fetus gains a measure of legal personhood…” (Gross). Abortions are not performed after the second semester so from the liberals point of view, abortion is not murder. The article, Introduction to The Ethics of Abortion: At Issue, presents the liberals side as it states, “They view abortion at any time before this point as a private choice that women should have the right to make, free from government interference.” ("Introduction to The Ethics of Abortion: At Issue."). This statement represents the moral theory of liberalism because it opposes interference of the government. The woman has the freedom from the government because abortion is a personal choice that she gets to make on her own. Gross’s article, Detailed Record Title: Abortion and Neonaticide: Ethics, Practice and Policy in Four Nations, also
When it comes to the theory of ethical egoism, the morally right thing to do is what promotes one's self interest. The article, Should Abortion Be Legal?, by the non profit organization, ProCon.org, describes how, “Access to legal, professionally-performed abortions reduces maternal injury and death caused by unsafe, illegal abortions.” ("Should Abortion Be Legal?"). Safe and legal abortion needs to be an option for women to protect themselves and to benefit their own self interest if they are not financially, physically, or mentally ready for a child at that specific point in their lives. The article, Introduction to The Ethics of Abortion: At Issue, expresses, “Most people who advocate legal abortion are not pro-abortion.” ("Introduction to The Ethics of Abortion: At Issue."). This remark shows how woman should have this as a right and an option if they know they are unable to care for the child, if the fetus has some type of a complicated or fatal abnormality, or if continuing with the pregnancy could cause potential harm to the mother. Abortion is sometimes the only option for some women and they should always be able to choose the option that is best suited for them. The social contract theory by Thomas Hobbes is related to ethical egoism as it pertains to rights and not duties. In the Procon.org article, Should Abortion Be