Topic and Background The enduringly discordant debate of abortion is one that disturbs each level of American politics and shows no sign of abating (Sandel, 1989). As with many other arguments in politics, there are two central and dividing observations in this particular discussion: the support and the opposition. Within these two focal points there are numerous subdivisions of this dispute, which is what makes this debate so inimitable (History and Debate of Abortion, n.d.). The deliberation of abortion is one that divides the political body on issues concerning control of women’s bodies, rights to privacy, fetal viability, as well as more extensive apprehensions about the general morality of our nation (Ginsburg, 1989). These topics
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As with most political issues that prompt debate, there are two primary arguments that surface with the topic of abortion as well: the strict sides of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice. This subject matter, however, is not so unpretentious. The majority of Americans actually take a more gradated view that supports abortion under some conditions, but not all (Cook et al., 1992). Considerations of the competing disagreements will be discussed in a generalized manner.
According to Sandel (1989), the popular belief originating from democratic voters defends the circumstance that political majorities have the right to embody in law their moral principles. The primary motivation for this analysis is driven from the belief that it is an incontestable freedom for the woman to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. He also describes that the government should not enforce a particular moral view with the quote: “No individual should be compelled to surrender the freedom to make that decision for herself simply because her ‘value preferences’ are not shared by the majority.” Another argument made by the abortion advocacy side is that life does not actually begin at conception. As the point of viability is not made clear, Roe v. Wade defined it as the point when the fetus is “potentially able to live outside the mother’s womb albeit with artificial …show more content…
The complexity of this issue leaves no explicit resolution, only an abundance of salient opinions plagued with exceptions, circumstances, and “grey area.” When considering an issue encompassing such a vast amount of controversy as the topic of abortion, it is important for us as individuals to recognize and appreciate that each person has their own biased opinion that they reason to be correct. As with any other heated political issue, it is crucial for us to respect the opinions of others and be aware that everyone is following their own moral compass, whatever seemingly opaque directions they lead
As with most political issues that prompt debate, there are two primary arguments that surface with the topic of abortion as well: the strict sides of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice. This subject matter, however, is not so unpretentious. The majority of Americans actually take a more gradated view that supports abortion under some conditions, but not all (Cook et al., 1992). Considerations of the competing disagreements will be discussed in a generalized manner.
According to Sandel (1989), the popular belief originating from democratic voters defends the circumstance that political majorities have the right to embody in law their moral principles. The primary motivation for this analysis is driven from the belief that it is an incontestable freedom for the woman to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. He also describes that the government should not enforce a particular moral view with the quote: “No individual should be compelled to surrender the freedom to make that decision for herself simply because her ‘value preferences’ are not shared by the majority.” Another argument made by the abortion advocacy side is that life does not actually begin at conception. As the point of viability is not made clear, Roe v. Wade defined it as the point when the fetus is “potentially able to live outside the mother’s womb albeit with artificial …show more content…
The complexity of this issue leaves no explicit resolution, only an abundance of salient opinions plagued with exceptions, circumstances, and “grey area.” When considering an issue encompassing such a vast amount of controversy as the topic of abortion, it is important for us as individuals to recognize and appreciate that each person has their own biased opinion that they reason to be correct. As with any other heated political issue, it is crucial for us to respect the opinions of others and be aware that everyone is following their own moral compass, whatever seemingly opaque directions they lead