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Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved
71
CHAPTER 11 – ABORTION
General Overview
In the last chapter issues of when life ends were controversial but have tended to settle medically
at least around establishing brain death. In this chapter some of the arguments for and against
abortion revolve around when life, personhood, or the ascription of moral value begins. If the
brain is used again as a guide then the development of the brain is crucial. There is a kind of
stalemate affecting each of the positions and currently some of the rights and freedoms
established in Roe v. Wade are being slowly whittled away. Abortion touches on some of the
toughest moral issues of all especially regarding when life begins and the values we give to lives.
Class Suggestions
Many students will have already thought about this issue and may well have entrenched
positions. The challenge for the instructor is to get opposed positions recognizing that the other
side may have something of value to offer. Certainly looking at the cases will help as would
getting those with clearly fixed positions to carefully analyze the positions of their opponent.
There are few neutral Internet sites, films, or other materials since the issue in the US is so
polarized. Coming at the topic “against the grain” may help, perhaps approaching it from the
point of view of sexual responsibility. Does it help, for example, to tell teenagers to simply
abstain from sexual contact? Also exploring issues like adoption, RU 485, etc., might help to
break down an “us and them” attitude that often pervades discussion of this issue.
Chapter Summary
Value of Life principle versus Principle of Individual Freedom. When does life begin and when
should it be protected? Extreme positions on each side both support absolute rights.
Abortion in American History:
In 1800 abortion was tolerated.
In 1900 abortion was banned in every state.
In 1973 Roe v. Wade overturned laws against abortion.
The Legal Status of Abortion in the United States:
Legality of abortion based on “trimester” approach:
1st trimester – permitted without exception
2nd trimester – permitted with restrictions
3rd trimester – prohibited except threat to life or health of woman
When does Human Life Begin?
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved
72
1. Life is present from conception but there may be different point at which such a life can be
considered human.
2. The concept passes through various stages of development. The closer to “viability” the more
“human” it becomes.
3. Difficult to state that, in earliest stages, the life is fully human. Equally difficult to state that
after the twelfth week this is not an actual human life.
Arguments Against Abortion
1. Genetic view of the beginning of human life
2. Sanctity or value of life argument
3. The Domino argument
4. The dangers of abortion to the mother’s life
a. Medical
b. Psychological
5. The relative safety of pregnancy
6. The existence of viable alternatives
7. The irrelevance of economic considerations
8. Responsibility for sexual activities
9. Rape and incest
Arguments for Abortion
1. Rights of women over their bodies
2. Birth as the beginning of human life
3. Problem of unwanted or deformed children
a. Adoption as poor solution
b. Lack of human institutions
4. Relative safety of abortion
a. Medical
b. Psychological
5. Refutation of the Domino argument
6. Danger of pregnancy to mother’s life
7. Rape and incest
8. Responsibility for sexual activity
9. Abortion as woman’s choice
The More Moderate Positions on Abortion
1. Unresolvable conflicts of absolutes
2. Problem of when life begins
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved
73
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
Life
Abortion
Embryo
Zygote
Fetus
Child
Conceptus
Viability
Ultrasound
Amniocentesis
“Prolife”
“Prochoice”
Adoption
Sexual Responsibility
Actual Rights
Potential Rights
Developmental View
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. Discuss the arguments in favor of abortion. State your view and try to justify your claims. Is
abortion always acceptable?
2. Discuss the arguments that oppose abortion, stating your view and justifying it. Are there any
justifiable exceptions?
3. Who has the more important “rights” claim (pregnant woman, fetus, father, etc.) in abortion
and why?
4. Critically evaluate the arguments that support the “developmental view” to justify some
abortions.
5. What is the moral status of the fetus?
TRUE/FALSE
1. A conceptus means the developing human individual from the eighth week.
2. Abortion is legal in all but a few states in the US.
3. In 1800 there was not a single statute concerning abortion in the US.
4. Viability occurs between the 15th and 17th weeks.
5. In the famous 1977 Stove v. Wade decision at the supreme court in Wimbledon, abortion
became legal.
6. Amniocentesis is the most widespread abortion procedure.
7. The strong pro-choice position is that life begins at birth.
8. By the end of the fourth week after conception the embryo looks like a newt or tadpole with
gills and a tail.
9. For many moderates abortion is an unresolvable conflict of absolutes.
10. It was Bill Clinton who said that “killing is brutalizing and criminalizing for the killer.”
MULTIPLE CHOICE
11. A zygote is defined as
a) a developing individual from the second week of gestation.
b) a developing individual from the eighth week.
c) a group of cells that result form the meeting of the sperm and egg.
d) that which has been conceived.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved
74
12. Human life begins at conception is the view generally of those
a) opposed to abortion.
b) in favor of abortion.
c) in favor of abortion very early on.
d) opposed to abortion after the sixth week.
13. The central argument for abortion is that
a) nobody knows when life begins.
b) women have primary rights over their own bodies.
c) abortion is a contraceptive practice.
d) adoption doesn’t work.
14. The moderate argument for abortion takes the
a) conception view of when life begins.
b) birth view of when life begins.
c) developmental view of when life begins.
d) viability view of when life begins.
15. From an antiabortionist point of view, the Domino argument is that
a) abortion will lead to a loss of reverence for human life.
b) abortion will lead to pre-teen sex.
c) abortion defies God’s will.
d) abortion will lead to the loss of humane institutions for children.
16. Who wrote the “ethical problems of abortion”?
a) Daniel Callahan
b) John Stuart Mill
c) George Bush
d) Sissela Bok
17. Brain waves typical of adult human brains do not appear until the
a) 10th week.
b) 13th week.
c) 30th week.
d) birth.
18. The most prevalent method of abortion is
a) hysterectomy.
b) partial birth.
c) saline.
d) uterine aspiration.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved
75
19. From a pro-life perspective who is ultimately responsible for sexual activity?
a) Men
b) Women
c) Men and Women
d) Nobody
20. The conceptus does not have absolute rights to life nor does the pregnant woman have
absolute rights over her own body is the position of
a) pro-life.
b) pro-choice.
c) moderates.
d) nobody.
Answer Key to Chapter 11 Test Questions
True or False:
Multiple Choice:
