Warren's Argument Against Abortion

Warren’s argument is convenient for abortion advocates, if embryos and fetuses are less than people, then it may be morally permissible to end their life before birth. However, Warren’s premise and argument is flawed, and she fails to see the indications of personhood outside of consciousness. Primarily, moral personhood is not defined by an ability to reason, it is instead defined by a state of being. Philosopher Francis Beckwich, discusses moral personhood in relation to abortion when he discusses the substance of the human being, a quality which, he says, persists through change, “each kind of living organism or substance, including the human being maintains identity through change as well as possessing a nature or essence that makes
This argument is easily rebutted, and Janet Hadley argues against it by claiming that the potential for personhood does not equal moral value, “How far back does potentiality go–to the individual sperm or egg? No anti-abortion advocate have yet proposed rescuing eggs or sperm in order to save lives” (Hadley,68) Hadley and other pro-abortion advocates are correct in this argument, however, they fail to realize why killing a fetus is actually wrong. Philosopher Don Marquis, in his famous work, Why Abortion is Wrong, gives an explanation of why death is undesirable, “The loss of one’s life deprives one of all the experiences, activities, projects, and enjoyments that would otherwise have constituted one’s future.” Marquis goes on to explain that this is why abortion is immoral, because it takes away the potential experiences and future that the child will have. (Marqus) But it is not wrong because of the fetus’ potential personhood, but it is already a person and killing it would rob it of it’s future
Multiple studies provide solid affirmation that, after abortions, a disproportionate amount of women suffer from mental disabilities including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. Psychologists Jesse Cougle, David Reardon, and Priscilla Coleman, in a 2003 study, compared women who, when pregnant for the first time, had a abortion, and those who birthed the child. The researchers found a sixty-five percent increase in depression risk for the women who aborted the fetus. (Cougle) This study is, however, only one piece of evidence for their claim. David Fergusson, a notable psychologist, in 2008 found that women who had a abortion were more likely to suffer from mental disorders. Fergusson estimates that post abortion mental illness acounts for 1.5 percent to 5.5 percent of all mental illness. (Fergesson) Many, including Theresa Burke, PhD, claim that many women suffer from a form of PTSD in the years following abortions. In her article, Abortion and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder she recounts personal stories of women who suffered greatly in the wake of an abortion. “Terry is plagued by nightmares. There is always a little girl crying for ‘mommy,’ with her arms outstretched and her eyes filled with fear and abandon. Terry usually takes strong barbiturates each night to avoid this painful