Abortion Three Perspectives

by Tooley, Michael; Wolf-Devine, Celia; Devine, Philip E.; Jaggar, Alison M.

• ISBN13: 9780195308952
• ISBN10: 0195308956
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-13
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Moving beyond traditional "liberal versus conservative" arguments for and against abortion, Abortion: Three Perspectives is an up-to-date, accessible, and engaging exploration of this highly contentious issue. Featuring a triangular debate between four prominent moral and political philosophers, it presents three different political perspectives: Michael Tooley argues the "liberal" pro-choice approach; Philip E. Devine and Celia Wolf-Devine argue the "communitarian" pro-life approach; and Alison M. Jaggar argues the "gender justice" approach. However, each of the authors' self-identifications is also challenged by one or more of the other authors, who offer alternative interpretations of liberalism, communitarianism, and feminism. All of these viewpoints are controversial, among both philosophers and general readers. Furthermore, because the arguments do not rely on religious authority, they are directed at all readers, regardless of religious affiliation. Abortion: Three Perspectives is divided into two parts: the authors first develop their ideas in depth and then briefly critique the other positions. Drawing examples from real life, they also integrate logic and empirical data into their arguments and consider views of abortion across other disciplines. As philosophers, the authors possess expert skills in critical analysis; their debates provide students and other readers with a model of dialogue among those who very strongly disagree. Abortion: Three Perspectives is ideal for courses in contemporary moral problems, introduction to ethics, bioethics, medical ethics, and feminist philosophy.

Author Biography

Michael Tooley is Arts and Sciences College Professor of Distinction in Philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Celia Wolf-Devine is Associate Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Stonehill College. Philip E. Devine is Professor of Philosophy at Providence College. Alison M. Jaggar is Arts and Sciences College Professor of Distinction in Philosophy and in Women and Gender Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiv
Abortion: Why a &Lbar;iberal View Is Correct	p. 3
Thinking about the Morality of Abortion and Discussing It with Others	p. 3
Abortion Raises Intellectually Difficult Issues	p. 3
The Emotionally Charged Atmosphere of Discussions about Abortion	p. 4
The "Package Deal" Problem	p. 5
Ethics: Religion or Philosophy?	p. 6
A Personal Note	p. 7
A Brief Overview of My Defense of a Liberal Position on Abortion	p. 8
The View to Be Defended	p. 8
The Concept of a Person	p. 9
The Personhood Argument	p. 10
Abortion and the Appeal to Religious Revelation	p. 11
The Appeal to an Immaterial, Rational Mind	p. 15
The Appeal to Psychological Capacities	p. 20
Two Biological Antiabortion Arguments	p. 21
The Counterexample Objection	p. 21
The Basic versus Derived Moral Principles Objection	p. 24
Is the Crucial Premise a Basic Moral Principle?	p. 25
Is the Crucial Premise a Derived Moral Principle?	p. 28
The Reprogramming Objection	p. 30
A Second Biological Antiabortion Argument	p. 32
Potentiality Arguments against Abortion	p. 35
Arguments in Support of an Affirmative Answer	p. 37
Arguments in Support of a Negative Answer	p. 42
Consequentialist and Dentological Approaches to Morality	p. 50
Summing Up: Potentiality Arguments against Abortion	p. 51
The Identity of Persons and Biological Organisms Argument	p. 51
The Argument	p. 51
The Unsoundness of This Argument	p. 52
Direct Objections to the Identity Claim	p. 53
Indirect Objections to the Identity Claim	p. 57
Human Persons and Organisms	p. 58
The Crucial Moral: Persons and the Right to Continued Existence	p. 59
Are Moderate Positions on Abortion Tenable?	p. 59
Does Rudimentary Consciousness Together with Desires Concerning One's Present State Give Something Moral Status?	p. 60
Does Rudimentary Consciousness Together with Certain Potentialities Give Something Moral Status?	p. 60
Do Developing Humans Acquire the Capacities for Thought and Self-Consciousness Prior to Birth?	p. 61
A Final Argument for a Moderate View	p. 62
The Moral Status of Abortion: A Final Summing Up	p. 63
Notes	p. 64
Abortion: A Communitarian Pro-Life Perspective	p. 65
Where We Are Now	p. 66
Methodology	p. 68
The Importance of Atavistic Responses	p. 68
Analogical Examples and the Pathological View of Pregnancy	p. 69
Utilitarianism, Negative Responsibility, and Problems Concerning Reproduction	p. 71
Virtue Ethics and Ordinary Morality	p. 72
Communitarianism versus the Volunteer Theory of Obligations	p. 73
The Prima Facie Case against Abortion	p. 76
The Status of the Unborn	p. 82
The Humanity of the Fetus	p. 82
Some Footnotes to the Argument	p. 88
The Pregnant Woman	p. 91
Divisions among Women	p. 91
The Arguments	p. 92
The Bodily Rights Argument	p. 92
Egalitarian Arguments	p. 95
Questions of Law	p. 99
Roe v. Wade	p. 99
Toward More Just Laws	p. 101
Policy Recommendations	p. 103
We Must Bring Down the Abortion Rate as Quickly as Possible	p. 103
How to Go About Bringing Down the Abortion Rate	p. 105
Informed Consent	p. 105
Regulation of Clinics	p. 105
Eliminate All Governmental Funding	p. 106
Parental Notification or Consent	p. 106
Make Resources Available to Support Pregnant Women	p. 107
Role and Limits of Philosophy	p. 107
Conclusion	p. 109
Notes	p. 110
Abortion Rights and Gender Justice Worldwide: An Essay in Political Philosophy	p. 120
Introduction	p. 120
Mapping the Philosophical Terrain	p. 121
Three Philosophical Questions about Abortion	p. 121
Personal Ethics and Political Morality	p. 123
Liberalism and Feminism: Two Thin Commitments of Political Morality	p. 124
Liberalism	p. 124
Feminism	p. 126
Designing Just Institutions in an Unjust World: Some Methodological Commitments	p. 128
Philosophical Methodology for the Real World	p. 128
Real-World Circumstances of Gender Justice	p. 130
Real-World Abortion	p. 133
Some Principles of Political Morality Salient to Abortion in the Real World	p. 135
Abortion: Human Rights, Gender Equality, and the Public Good	p. 139
Abortion and Human Rights	p. 139
Women's Rights Are Human Rights	p. 139
Sexual and Reproductive Rights	p. 141
Rights to Life, Liberty, and Bodily Integrity	p. 143
Abortion and Gender Equality	p. 146
Abortion and Equality between Men and Women	p. 147
Abortion and Equality among Women	p. 149
Abortion and Gendered Cycles of Inequality	p. 152
Abortion and the Public Good	p. 152
Abortion and Public Health	p. 152
Abortion, Population, and Economic Development	p. 155
Objections to Abortion Rights	p. 156
Does Abortion Violate a Fetal Right to Life?	p. 156
Should Moral Considerations Limit the Scope of Abortion Rights?	p. 161
Does the Public Provision of Abortion Violate Freedom of Conscience?	p. 165
Dissenting Taxpayers	p. 166
Dissenting Medical Personnel and Institutions	p. 166
Does Abortion Violate Feminist Values?	p. 168
Does Abortion Encourage Disrespect for Human Life?	p. 172
Conclusion	p. 174
Notes	p. 175
Response to Alison M. Jaggar, Celia Wolf-Devine, and Philip E. Devine	p. 183
Comments on Alison M. Jaggar's Essay	p. 183
Reply to Celia Wolf-Devine and Philip E. Devine	p. 184
Species Membership and the Right to Life	p. 185
The "Mere Assertion" Contention	p. 185
Species Membership, Method in Ethics, and the Appeal to Moral Intution	p. 187
Species Membership: Summing Up	p. 191
The "Reductio" Objection and the "Change-of-Address" Objection	p. 192
Potentialities and the Right to Life	p. 194
Summing Up	p. 197
Notes	p. 197
Response to Michael Tooley and Alison M. Jaggar	p. 198
Response to Tooley	p. 198
The Big Picture	p. 198
Methodology: Philosophy and Religion	p. 200
Abortion and Infanticide	p. 201
The Species Principle	p. 202
Potentiality Principle	p. 204
Response to Jaggar	p. 205
Liberalism	p. 206
Feminism	p. 207
The International Front	p. 210
The "Real World"	p. 212
Consequences for Whom?	p. 214
A Final Word	p. 215
Notes	p. 216
Response to Michael Tooley, Celia Wolf-Devine, and Philip E. Devine	p. 218
Methodology	p. 218
Political Philosophy	p. 220
Political Liberalism	p. 221
Rights	p. 222
Communitarinism	p. 223
Reality	p. 224
Evidence	p. 224
Psychology	p. 225
Biology	p. 226
Health	p. 227
Consent	p. 228
Policy	p. 229
Sailing under True Colors	p. 231
Notes	p. 232
Bibliography	p. 234
Index	p. 245
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