The topic of matters on life or death situations is often very consersial in terms of morality. In particular the topic of abortion often leads our nation in a huge debate. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions and it is our right to defend his take. However, when it comes to an individual’s body and affects only their life, I believe that its should be their decision that is the final say. In this case if a woman wants to get an abortion then it is her decision and that does not involve anyone else since it’s her body. Kant’s definition of a person, act utilitarianism, and Kant’s Categorical Imperative defends a women’s right to an abortion if she chooses.
Abortion is defined as “the intentional termination of a pregnancy that destroys …show more content…
Act Utilitarianism says that we should always act in ways that maximize the total well-being of everyone affected (Barcalow, Pg 84). Under Act Utilitarianism, only acts that produce the greatest increase in total well-being is considered morally right such as volunteering (Barcalow, P 84). In other words, we should aim to perform acts that benefit those around us and minimize the decrease in well-being. One notable feature of Act Utilitarianism is that it does determine the moral rightness and wrongness of kinds of actions, rather it determines it for case by case or for certain individuals (Barcalow, P 85). An Act utilitarian would judge abortions by a case-by-case basis (Barcalow, p. 235). The act utilitarian would determine if a woman’s abortion would result in greater total well-being, then it is the right thing to do, or if an abortion would cause less total well-being, then it is wrong (Barcalow, p.235). An act utilitarian would see the potential a fetus has of becoming a person; however, since it has not developed the capacity of experiences the well-being of the fetus may not be equal to the well-being of a fully developed person (Barcalow, p.235). In other words, the fetus is not yet a person because it hasn’t developed capacity to have experiences. If the fetus has defects or if the woman and her family isn’t ready to raise a child the total well-being of everyone mention including the child is negatively affected. With this in mind woman should have the right to abortions when they want to terminate an unwanted
Abortion is defined as “the intentional termination of a pregnancy that destroys …show more content…
Act Utilitarianism says that we should always act in ways that maximize the total well-being of everyone affected (Barcalow, Pg 84). Under Act Utilitarianism, only acts that produce the greatest increase in total well-being is considered morally right such as volunteering (Barcalow, P 84). In other words, we should aim to perform acts that benefit those around us and minimize the decrease in well-being. One notable feature of Act Utilitarianism is that it does determine the moral rightness and wrongness of kinds of actions, rather it determines it for case by case or for certain individuals (Barcalow, P 85). An Act utilitarian would judge abortions by a case-by-case basis (Barcalow, p. 235). The act utilitarian would determine if a woman’s abortion would result in greater total well-being, then it is the right thing to do, or if an abortion would cause less total well-being, then it is wrong (Barcalow, p.235). An act utilitarian would see the potential a fetus has of becoming a person; however, since it has not developed the capacity of experiences the well-being of the fetus may not be equal to the well-being of a fully developed person (Barcalow, p.235). In other words, the fetus is not yet a person because it hasn’t developed capacity to have experiences. If the fetus has defects or if the woman and her family isn’t ready to raise a child the total well-being of everyone mention including the child is negatively affected. With this in mind woman should have the right to abortions when they want to terminate an unwanted