Abortion is the premeditated process of ending a pregnancy. An expectant mother can decide to abort for various reasons. Such reasons range from genuine concern for health to mere fear of responsibility and social stigmatization that comes with unexpected pregnancy. Abortion can be made in the interest of the health and life of the mother, especially when it poses a risk to her life. However, others abort because they fear the responsibility associated with bearing an unwanted pregnancy (Kaczor 6). From the ethical dimensions postulated by Kant, Mill, and Aristotle, it is evident that abortion is an immoral act because it is not associated with the concept of good will.
The morality and ethics of abortion can be assessed based on Kant’s philosophy …show more content…
Abortion can be considered either ethical or unethical depending on the intentions of the abortion rather than the consequences (Kant 505). As already highlighted, the intentions for abortion vary from genuine concern for the life and health of the mother to the selfish reasons of getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, his philosophy implies that abortion can be ethical if the intentions of such abortions are genuine and valid. If the pregnancy poses a risk to the life of the mother and the unborn baby and the intention behind the abortion is to save the life of the mother, then such abortions cannot be considered unethical. However, when selfish desires such as fear of stigmatization and the responsibility associated with bearing the child motivate abortion, the act becomes unethical. In this framework of analysis, the ethicality of abortion is determined by the intentions of the action and not its outcome (Kaczor …show more content…
The definition of moral virtue that Aristotle supports is a good starting point. He postulates that moral virtue can only be attained through repetitive practice. He argues that natural things cannot form the basis for moral virtue since they are not changed through continuous and repetitive practice (Aristotle 139). Nobody is born with an inherent nature or desire to abort. However, it is rather acquired through deliberate attempts and practice. When faced with the need for abortion, someone can choose to either abort or avoid it. Therefore, the choice of abortion is a deliberate attempt. Considering the negative connotation of abortion, this makes the entire process of abortion
The morality and ethics of abortion can be assessed based on Kant’s philosophy …show more content…
Abortion can be considered either ethical or unethical depending on the intentions of the abortion rather than the consequences (Kant 505). As already highlighted, the intentions for abortion vary from genuine concern for the life and health of the mother to the selfish reasons of getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, his philosophy implies that abortion can be ethical if the intentions of such abortions are genuine and valid. If the pregnancy poses a risk to the life of the mother and the unborn baby and the intention behind the abortion is to save the life of the mother, then such abortions cannot be considered unethical. However, when selfish desires such as fear of stigmatization and the responsibility associated with bearing the child motivate abortion, the act becomes unethical. In this framework of analysis, the ethicality of abortion is determined by the intentions of the action and not its outcome (Kaczor …show more content…
The definition of moral virtue that Aristotle supports is a good starting point. He postulates that moral virtue can only be attained through repetitive practice. He argues that natural things cannot form the basis for moral virtue since they are not changed through continuous and repetitive practice (Aristotle 139). Nobody is born with an inherent nature or desire to abort. However, it is rather acquired through deliberate attempts and practice. When faced with the need for abortion, someone can choose to either abort or avoid it. Therefore, the choice of abortion is a deliberate attempt. Considering the negative connotation of abortion, this makes the entire process of abortion