For the Society of Christian Bioethics conference. Unfortunately, I cannot make the event, so I made a video.
When does human life begin? Well, when does human life end? On euthanasia and abortion.
The question, “When does human life begin?” is often taken
to be a key question in the discussion of the ethics of abortion, especially
among general audiences. I observe that this question can be interpreted in a
number of ways, due to “human” and “life” having multiple meanings—biological
or scientific meanings and moral meanings—and that these different meanings
yield different arguments against abortion that would be evaluated in different
ways: some are definitely unsound, some are, at best, controversial and in need
of defense.
I suggest, however, that engaging the question “When does
human life end?” or when can it end, will help us better understand what
“human life” is, in the morally relevant sense. So, thinking through a number
of common ways that human life can end can help us understand what “life” is,
in the morally significant sense, and when “life” begins.
This understanding supports thinking that early abortions, and so most abortions, are morally permissible and shouldn’t be banned or criminalized. This discussion supports thinking about abortion in the broader context of other bioethical issues—which sometimes doesn’t happen—and applying insights from these other issues to abortion. It also helps us see why, pace many anti-abortion activists, issues about “when life begins” are, or can be, religious issues, just as questions about “when life ends” are, or can be, religious issues.
@nathan.nobis When does life begin? Well, when does life end? #abortion #ethics #philosophy ♬ original sound - Philosophy 101 - Prof. Nobis
Some related readings:
- On Marquis (see Thinking Critically About Abortion, section 5.1.5) and section 4 of "The Ethics of Abortion" at 1000-Word Philosophy.
- "Euthanasia, or Mercy Killing."
- On Beckwith.
- On George and Tollefsen.
- On Tollefsen.
- "When does life begin? When if comes to abortion, it depends what you mean by 'life'" At Salon.
The “consciousness is what makes us human” argument is as ridiculous as a man who cuts off the sleeves of a t-shirt to creat a halter top and later poses for the camera with his eyes closed for several minutes. Any parent paying for this man to teach their children should demand their money back.
ReplyDeleteA human body that's gone permanently unconscious is still biologically human. Nobody denies that: it's not like the body becomes bovine or feline or becomes species-less. So did you mean to say something else?
DeleteSeems like there very poor reading and/or listening comprehension here, and/or poor writing skills in expressing your complaint.