Shane Lee
Wk 3 Essay
Feb. 3, 2013
Mary Anne Warren on Abortion
Abortion is a deeply personal choice for a woman to make. Yet, the moral and
ethical views around the decision are equally deep and personal for those outside of the
woman’s body. Being denied abortion and forcing childbirth on a woman against her
wishes would be unethical. It forces a woman to “sacrifice liberty, self-determination
and bodily integrity” (Warren, “Abortion”, pp.4).
There are many reasons a woman chooses abortion. It might be health reasons;
financial reasons or perhaps she is pregnant as a result of a rape. No one should
become a parent if they are not willing or able to be a parent. The effect that an
unwanted pregnancy has on a child can be detrimental to the well-being of the child.
Poor quality of life, lack of nurturing and simple needs such as food and clothing are
unfair to the child that was not wanted.
It is clear that abortion ends the life of a fetus. What is less clear is at what point
the fetus is considered a person.
Some views are that life begins at conception.
Another view is that life begins when the heart starts to beat. Yet another view is that
until the fetus is capable of surviving outside the mother, it does not have a life of its
own. These views muddy the waters a bit when determining if an abortion is killing
another human being. If abortion is killing and it is wrong, then how is this less or more
wrong than inseminating a cow to give birth and then killing that calf for veal? It is still a
matter of taking life.
Utilitarian views seek to find amount of happiness for the greatest number of
people. Therefore, if we apply this view, having an abortion will upset a great number of
people.
Not having the baby might bring happiness for the mother but those who
oppose abortion will be unhappy. So, not having the abortion would be a decision that
supports the utilitarian view and makes the most people happy.
Personally, I do not believe I would ever be able to choose abortion for myself. I
believe that life begins at conception. In the same breath, I also do not believe that
anyone else can or should make decisions about my body other than myself. I feel that
each woman should make the decision that is best for her. I would rather see a woman
choose abortion rather than see a child born into a home without love.
As Mary Anne Warren points out, it is not an all about the fetus or all about the
woman situation. There are values and points on both sides. However, the woman is
the person that is here now. It is her rights and her life that we are ultimately referring
to. Therefore, it is really her decision and the decision should be the one that brings her
the most happiness.