Reinterpreting the 'quickening' perspective in the abortion debate.
Personhood constitutes the pivotal point in the abortion debate. There exists a diversity of views as to when foetal personhood actually starts-from conception and implantation to viability and even birth. One perspective that has lost support for decades is that of quickening, a stance associated with Lord Ellenborough's 1803 Act. This paper attempts to put quickening back into the limelight, albeit through a new interpretation. After discussing its philosophy and underpinning rationale, I will assess a number of arguments that have been directed against quickening as a viable point of distinction. I conclude by suggesting that according to modern proponents of quickening proponents, rational soul ensoulment begins after a certain degree of cerebral cortical formation has been realized, thus marking foetal volition, which promotes foetal interests, for the first time.
Sekaleshfar
Farrokh B
FB
School of Law, Manchester University, Oxford Rd., Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. Farrokh.sekaleshfar@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000941:ethics*; D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D005260:Female; D005328:Fetal Viability; D006801:Humans; D028681:Moral Obligations; D028723:Personhood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012945:Social Values; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life