So when thomson argues that it is permissible for a woman to abort a fetus, she means that a woman in within her rights to abort the fetus, not that it is the morally best option. Study 17 terms thomsonviolinist abortion flashcards. Come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays. A rebuttal of thomsons abortion defense walking christian. Judith jarvis thomson a defense of abortion hcc learning web. This worksheetquiz will determine how well you understand judith jarvis thomsons defense of abortion. This is known as a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage, and happens in about one in four known pregnancies. Mary anne warren begins her discussion of abortion by disagreeing with judith thomson. In her 1995 essay, thomson argues that the anti abortion position on the morally protected status of the fetus from conception is not. In an article entitled, a defense of abortion, judith thomson presents what is perhaps the most famous article ever written on abortion, and is indeed one of the most frequently cited articles in academic literature on abortion. Judith thomson and don marquis are no different, as both of these philosophers have their own opinions on abortion. Thomsons argument in her article, a defense of abortion, to that of pregnancy reduction and if there is any relevance, if there are exceptions or situations where that might change. To cause a fetus death through abortion is morally wrong since it violates one of the basic rights of an already considered person, that is, the right to life of the fetus in judith jarvis thompson s a defense of abortion a different view of abortion is presented 47. Thomson defense of abortion 3 march 2017 in this paper i will discuss the relevance of j.
It may therefore appear rather surprising that the most popular proposed solutions to it are extremely simple and straightforward, based on clear. In her 1995 essay, thomson argues that the antiabortion position on the morally protected status of the fetus from conception is not. A defense of abortion judith jarvis thomson philosophy and public affairs,vol. A critical examination of judith thomsons argument for. Does judith jarvis thomson really grant the prolife view of fetal personhood in her defense of abortion. Outline thomson and abortion thomson and abortion i. Thomsons strategy is to get us to think about cases that do not involve abortion, in order to force us to articulate our basic moral assumptions. A defense of abortion by judith jarvis thomson 1971 most opposition to abortion relies on the premise that the fetus is a human being, a person, from the moment of conception. Summary of judith jarvis thomsons, a defense of abortion may 25, 2015 abortion classics john messerly. There is a familiar argument that purports to show that it is always wrong for an expectant woman to have an abortion. In the article a defense of abortion judith jarvis thomson provides an argument that abortion in some cases is morally permissible, because all persons have a right to life. By definition, then, maternal mortality must be equal than or greater to abortion mortality. And i argue that thomsons view implies that any late term abortion that. Thomson s a defense of abortion a common argument against abortion.
Thompson on abortionit turns out that rising conservative hero fred thompson has given some modestly equivocal answers about abortion in the past. Judith thompson and the case for abortion michael s. She holds that abortion is also permissible in cases in which the pregnancy resulted from a an involuntary act or b a voluntary act, where reasonable precautions were taken to. Lecture notes for judith thomson s a defense of abortion. Judith thomson and don marquis on abortion philosophy essay. It is an essay notable for its structure, relying almost entirely on thought experiments crafted to challenge unreflective righttolife arguments.
A defense of abortion by judith jarvis thomson 1971. Does judith jarvis thomson really grant the prolife view. Given her view, whether or not an abortion violates the fetuss right to life. Does judith jarvis thomson really grant the prolife view of fetal. John noonan objects to the example of the unconscious violinist of thomson s model and offers a more realistic example. It covers the complex reasons women seek abortions, the co. Abortion mortality is a subset of maternal mortality. A former law colleague of likely republican presidential candidate fred thompson told cnn monday that thompson worked in the 1990s for a group trying to loosen abortion restrictions. If its a person, then it is usually thought that the argument against abortion is sound, much as we saw with noonan. In politics, religion and even ethics, abortion is a highly controversial topic. Thomson presents a qualified argument in favor of abortion in some cases based on what we as humans are obligated to do to help others. Some of these cases are pretty silly, but that is because she wants us to think about the.
Judith jarvis thomson a defense of abortion to print or download this file, click the link below. Russo i n the united states, the abortion debate has typically been framed in terms of rights, usually pitting the fetus right to life against the mothers right to control her body. From what thompson has said on abortion, however, it is an entirely reasonable inference that he would favor both positions. Philosophers and the issue of abortion page 1 of 6 72700 philosophers and the issue of abortion published in essays in the philosophy of humanism, m. So when thomson argues that it is permissible for a woman to abort a. Lecture notes for judith thomsons a defense of abortion.
A critique of judith thomsons a defense of abortion essay. Judith thompson and the case for abortion sophia project. T does not think the conceptus a neutral way of referring to the fetus is a person from the moment of conception, anymore than an acorn is an oak tree. Thomson, the right to life, and partial birth abortion or two mules for. Philosophers and the issue of abortion page 3 of 6 72700 the conservative position contends that from conception the fetus has full moral status. Pdf this is an analysis of the argument presented by thomson on the. A defense of abortion judith jarvis thomson philosophy and. Thomson s t imaginative examples and controversial conclusions have made a defense of abortion perhaps the most widely reprinted essay in all of contemporary philosophy.
A critique of judith jarvis thomsons a defense of abortion, part iii for part one of this series, go here. Abortion a defense of abortion by thomson essay 1597 words. As the title suggests the article aims to defend abortion at least in some cases. Maternal mortality includes abortion related deaths. Whereas thomson stated that, even if the fetus has a full right to life, abortion is nevertheless permissible. Thomson argues that abortion is permissible in order to save the mothers life. Get the knowledge you need in order to pass your classes and more. Thomson grants for the sake of argument the premise that a human embryo is a person she challenges the idea that one can argue effectively from this premise to the conclusion that all abortion is morally impermissible. An abortion is when a pregnancy is ended, or terminated. In this article, thomson uses the phrase permissible to mean within ones moral rights.
Hita gurung qcc,2003 return to the listing of readings for the chapter by clicking herereadings. A defense of abortion critical exposition the goal of judith jarvis thomson in her defense of abortion is to sway the ideas of those who are against abortion by challenging the arguments they give for thinking so. Sometimes a fertilised egg or embryo is lost naturally. Judith jarvis thomson on abort ion in this article, thomson uses the phrase permissible to mean within ones moral rights. A critical examination of judith thomsons argument for abortion. Fortunately, none of the arguments for and against abortion need be expressed in terms of rights. Although thompson embraced some proabortion positions in his 1994 senate race, such as favoring legal abortion in the first trimester, he earned a. The step from a fetus is a person to abortion is morally wrong is usually taken for granted. In her groundbreaking 1971 article, a defense of abortion, judith jarvis thomson argues that even if one grants to the prolifer her most important premisethat. Alward poses a serious challenge to those who are relying on thomsons conclusions for their prochoice stand. Essay about response to judith jarvis thomsons a defense for abortion. Philosophy final abortion thomson flashcards quizlet. The violinist example you cannot expect the women to lay their for nine months to support the violinist when she had been taken there against her will. Thomson, a defense of abortion, the following essay is an analysis of her arguments.
Terms in this set 28 even supposing the fetus is a person, and hence, has a right to life, it doesnt follow that abortion is, necessarily morally wrong. Thomson defends the case by the premise that life begins at the moment of. Judith jarvis thomson on abortion in this article, thomson uses the phrase permissible to mean within ones moral rights. Abortion remains an emotionally and politically charged issue today. Ironically, it was one of thompsons supporters, russell arben fox, who smoked out thompsons stance on abortion, his website being conspicuously silent. On closer examination, thomsons essay a defense of abortion is one of the most helpful prolife documents ever penned. A defense of abortion judith jarvis thomson philosophy and public. Thompson maintains that when a couple have taken all reasonable precautions against having a child, they do not by virtue of their biological relationship to the child who comes. Youll be quizzed on topics like what thompson compares ending a. Definitions of abortion mortality produced by the population research institute note. If we grant that a fetus has a right to life, does that make voluntary abortion immoral. Abortion advocates accuse fred thompson of lobbying for. The complex problem of abortion peter millican, university of leeds the problem of the morality of abortion is one of the most complex and controversial in the entire field of applied ethics.
The current controversies series examines todays most important social and political. Granting for the sake of argument that the fetus has a right to life, thomson uses thought experiments to argue that the fetuss right to life does not trump the pregnant womans right to have jurisdiction over her body, and that induced abortion is therefore not. Abortion examines the current landscape of the abortion debate. The debate hinges on the moral status of the fetus. When the mothers life is at stake abortion is killing a person. Debates over abortion are ordinarily thought to hinge on the status of the fetus. Response to judith jarvis thomsons a defense for abortion judith jarvis thomson, in a defense of abortion, argues that even if we grant that fetuses have a fundamental right to life, in. Conservatives argue that the fetus is a person from the moment of conception, and, therefore, should enjoy. Stella browne, a pioneering feminist, campaigned for the liberalization of abortion law. Candidate thompson splits hairs on abortion support.
Prochoice supporters had often denied the status of personhood on the fetus, some even going so far as to deny that the clump of cells qualified as human life. Summary of judith jarvis thomsons, a defense of abortion. Outline thomson and abortion thomson and abortion i arguments a a definition 1 an argument a list of statements the premises advanced in support of. Most opposition to abortion relies on the premise that the fetus is a human being, a person, from the moment of conception. Thomsons t imaginative examples and controversial conclusions have made.
Judith jarvis thomson is best known for a defense of abortion that con cedes the fetuss personhood but nevertheless maintains that a right to abor. Thomson, the right to life, and partialbirth abortion. Judith jarvis thomson a defense of abortion most opposition to abortion relies on the premise that the fetus is a human being, a person, from the moment of conception. On a daytoday basis, a provider or a patient sees this hostility when she opens the newspaper, drives by a group of protesters at a. The famous violinist, people seeds and the chocolate example are three of a series of thought experiments in philosopher judith jarvis thomsons article a defence of abortion.
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