Preview

Thomson vs. Marquis: Abortion

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1756 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Thomson vs. Marquis: Abortion
Thomson vs. Marquis
Blake Place
Philosophy 160
Monday Wednesday 10:40AM – 12:05PM

In submitting this assignment with this cover page, I am hereby stating that: (1) I have voluntarily read, understand, and agree to uphold and abide by the syllabus plagiarism policy for this class; (2) I have neither plagiarized any other author’s written material or unwritten ideas or enabled (intentionally or unwittingly) other students to plagiarize any part of this assignment; (3) I have neither shown or even discussed my assignment with any other student; and (4) I voluntarily accept the consequences stipulated in the syllabus plagiarism policy for this class should my statements in (1), (2), or (3) above prove false.

The question between whether abortion is morally right or wrong has been talked about for years and no common ground has been made. Judith Thomson, a believer in Pro-choice, argues that abortion is not wrong because the mother should have a choice of what happens to her body. In response to this, Donald Marquis who is against abortion believes every fetus is a human with a right to have a future like ours. Each Ethicist gives examples and theories as to why abortion is wrong or right. In this essay, I will attempt to show that abortion is okay in some cases, and Donald Marquis’s views and arguments are broad and incorrect. Abortion has always struck an uncommon ground between people, especially when rape or contraceptive failure is the reason for the abortion. Judith Thompson starts by explaining the Violinist argument. The argument is something like this; you wake up in the morning and you find yourself back to back with an unconscious, world famous violinist. The Violinist, come to find out, has a rare kidney disease that can be fatal if he doesn’t have a donor with the same blood type. The Society of Music Lovers looked everywhere for someone with the same blood type, and found that you were the only compatible donor in the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    After reading “A defense of Abortion” by Judith Jarvis Thomson and what he had to say with his violinist analogy involving the kidney replacement. I agree with what he has to say on not only abortion itself but, whether or not a fetus should have the right to the women’s body. I don’t think that the fetus should be given the right to use the women’s body because what if she does not what to have a baby and ends up getting pregnant anyway. Also, each time a woman engages in sexual intercourse, she is not inviting the fetus to live inside her body. This is why birth control and other contraceptives are not a sure deal when dealing with sexual intercourse. What if the birth control method fails and the women end's up getting pregnant? She did…

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In Judith Thomson's article, "A Defense of Abortion," she argues that abortion can be morally justified in some instances, but not all cases. Clearly, in her article, Thomson argues, "…while I do argue that abortion is not impermissible, I do not argue that is always permissible" (163). Thomson feels that when a woman has been impregnated due to rape, and when a pregnancy threatens the life of a mother, abortion is morally justifiable. In order to help readers understand some of the moral dilemmas raised by abortion, Thomson creates numerous stories that possess many of the same problems.…

    • 1629 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The topic of abortion is a highly controversial issue in today's society, and various views are held concerning the morality of the procedure. Some people feel that abortion is simply cold-blooded murder, because it is their opinion that a 'foetus' is a human being from the moment of conception. However, others would argue that a foetus is merely insubstantial matter, dependant entirely on its mother's body for survival, with no real life of its own. It is for this reason that pro-abortionists support the woman's choice to undergo abortion. After all, why should something so small and insignificant, which is not yet human, be entitled to the same rights and privileges a real human has"…

    • 1652 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mary Anne Warren argues the position that abortion is morally permissible because the fetus is not a person therefore has no rights therefore not immoral to be killed. I shall argue that Warren’s position is invalid since her argument “appears to justify not only abortion, but infanticide as well.”…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people believe that abortions should be legal because women should have the right to choose whether or not they want to bring a baby into the world. They believe a woman should have property rights which include the body and the fetus. They also believe a woman should have privacy rights which means the state should not interfere with private matters. These people are called pro choice. At the same time many people are anti-abortion because they believe “Life is present from the moment of conception” (526). In Don Marquis’s essay, “Why Abortion is Immoral” he takes the position that abortion is “morally unjustified” (525). The purpose of the essay is to go against the belief that “The anti-abortion position is either a symptom of irrational religious dogma or a conclusion generated by seriously confused philosophical argument” (525). Abortions should be illegal because they are morally wrong except, in cases beyond our control.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The first argument is by J.J Thomson regarding abortion when it happens during consensual sex. She says that the woman has no obligation to keep the child, even though the woman had consensual sex and understood that she could become pregnant. Marquis talks about how everyone has a FLO account, and abortion would be killing, and killing causes premature death, so therefore, he believes that abortion is immoral in all cases including consensual sex. Judith Jarvis Thomson gives an analogy when it comes to consensual sex. If the room is stuffy, and you decide to open a window, and a burglar crawls in, you have to let him stay, since you opened the window.…

    • 1656 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the article "A Defense of Abortion" Judith Jarvis Thomson argues that abortion is morally permissible even if the fetus is considered a person. In this paper I will give a fairly detailed description of Thomson main arguments for abortion. In particular I will take a close look at her famous "violinist" argument. Following will be objections to the argumentative story focused on the reasoning that one person's right to life outweighs another person's right to autonomy. Then appropriate responses to these objections. Concluding the paper I will argue that Thomson's "violinist" argument supporting the idea of a mother's right to autonomy outweighing a fetus' right to life does not make abortion permissible.…

    • 1125 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Due to boldily autonomy and the clear distinction between a fetus and a rational, self-aware person, abortion is morally permissible practically whenever the mother chooses it, given it is done humanely. Most people would agree that in cases where the woman did not choose pregnancy, like rape, abortion should be morally permissible due to bodily autonomy and the immorality of asking someone to undergo psychological and physical trauma due to something beyond their control. This is supported by the Famous Violinist argument which explains that women, especially those who are pregnant due to rape, are not morally obligated to endure this immense sacrifice, even if it would be nice to do so (Singer, 1975, p.113-114). Whilst Thomson’s argument has fallen under criticism based on utilitarianism, these arguments are countered by Singer’s deconstruction of the Conservative Argument and its flawed perception that human life is inherently special, which demonstrates the moral permissibility of most abortions. The Conservative Argument’s premise that a fetus is an innocent human can mean two things: either the fetus is a person that has self-awareness and rational thought or a fetus is a member of the human species (Singer, 1975, p.117).…

    • 1642 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Annotated Bibliography

    • 1263 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Marquis, Don. "Why Abortion Is Immoral." Journal of Philosophy 86 (1989): 183-202. Print. This journal is written by a philospher by the name of Don Marquis. While this document is quit outdated it still plays an important role in today 's debate about abortion. It is used by pro-life activists when debating the reasons why they feel abortion is immoral. This journal is long and filled with great ideas to ponder about life, its meaning and signifigance to the world. Marquis has etched his name with this written journal in the never ending debate of wether abortion is right or wrong. I think this piece will be valuable to my essay in that it will give my audience a deeper perception than the current idea that abortion should be a womens choice.…

    • 1263 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    A famous analogy used by both sides of the argument is the violinist analogy. The violinist analogy raises the question of whether all abortions are unjust killing. A famous violinist has been found to have a fatal kidney disease, and the Society of Music Lovers has found that, out of everyone in the world, you are one with the right blood type, therefore, they kidnap you and the violinist circulatory system…

    • 2145 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Based on different ideas and analyses of two presentations on the topic of the morality of abortion, it is clear that the views by Thomson are superior to those of Marquis because she states that a woman does not have a moral obligation to care for another person as stated in her violinist thought experiment. As Thomson illustrates, a mother does not have a duty to carry an unborn baby, especially in the case of rape, since the child came from an involuntary sexual act. Thomson argues that the right to life does not guarantee the use of another person’s body against their will (RT, 120). I don't agree with Marquis' argument because of the objection is given to his argument, stating that the issue with abortion is the end of a future for the…

    • 231 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Violinist Theory

    • 1475 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Throughout the class we have opened our minds to three different views on abortions. After reading and understanding each philosopher’s argument I agree with Thomson. Unlike Marquis who argues that most abortions are wrong because it deprives a fetus of its future, and Warren who states that abortions are permissible because a fetus is not a person; Thomson believes that abortions are permissible under normal circumstances because a woman has a right to stop something from using her body against her own will. We will look at Thomson’s argument compared to Marquis to prove that Thomson is correct that abortions are morally permissible under normal circumstances. After we will compare Thomson with Warren to prove that even though Thomson supports that abortions are permissible under normal circumstances that abortions are not permissible under all circumstances. When we compare Thomson and Marquis we will look at Thomson’s Violinist case.…

    • 1475 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abortion On Demand

    • 4916 Words
    • 16 Pages

    Abortion is a controversial topic. Regardless of which view you take the stakes could not be higher. In the opinion of those who oppose abortion, they are arguing for the lives of the thousands of unborn children that are aborted every year. Where as those who are in favour of choice are arguing for a woman’s right to control her own body. Subject to much political and academic debate most people will be aware of the competing arguments. Abortion is much publicised by the media and always elicits heated debate. However a lot of the arguments seem to focus on ethical and moral rhetoric. With each participant proposing unrealistic hypothetical situations as metaphors for abortion. Indeed a lot of debate about abortion ignores the actual legal framework surrounding the topic. This text will discuss the process of abortion, and the manner in which this legal framework is being applied.…

    • 4916 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Abortion Argument

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The constant conflict over abortion in America has been a major social problem that started as an issue in our nation over two centuries ago. In the 1960 's and 70 's with the coinciding civil rights movement and women’s rights movement, abortion became the new national issue we still see today between two opposing sides. It is this struggle over whose deep rooted morals and beliefs are appropriate for our society that make the abortion issue such so controversial. First it is important to understand abortion and its history. Then to understand each side, their beliefs, the organizations tied to them, and their wishes for policies in our nation. We must look at the effects that both the mother and child must endure through the process. Then we must look at and understand the laws directed at abortion and why they were set in place. It is then with this information that we can acknowledge the effects and harm that abortion causes, and conclude an answer to this problem.…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Implication of Abortion

    • 2270 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Thompson, Judith Jarvis, Philosophy & Public Affairs, Vol. 1, no. 1 (Fall 1971) A Defense of Abortion. Retrieved 17 July 2009…

    • 2270 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays