A Christian philosopher's view of recent directions in the abortion debate.
From the standpoint of a Christian philosopher, heeding the teaching and exhortations of Pope John Paul II and previous popes, I examine three directions in which the recent philosophical debate has developed. In the last seven or eight years there has been 1) a renewed focus on the biological issue of when a human individual comes to be, 2) new arguments for the proposition that personhood is a characteristic acquired after birth, and 3) refinements of the early argument of Judith Thomson. Replying to these developments, I defend, on philosophical grounds, the pro-life position. I argue that a distinct, whole (though immature) human individual comes to be at conception, that he or she is a person, with full moral worth, from the moment he or she comes to be, and the mothers and fathers have a special responsibility to their children which entails (at least) that they ought not to choose to abort them. I conclude by briefly indicating, from the standpoint of Christian faith, why Christian philosophers should vigorously pursue this debate.
Lee
Patrick
P
Franciscan University, Steubenville, OH 43952, USA. plee@franciscan.edu
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000941:ethics*; D033421:Beginning of Human Life / Q000941:ethics; D002410:Catholicism; D019976:Cloning, Organism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations; D028681:Moral Obligations; D010290:Parents; D028723:Personhood; D010684:Philosophy; D037841:Pregnant People; D026712:Value of Life; D015053:Zygote