PHLA11H3 Lecture Notes - Samaritans, Abortion Debate, Fetus
Document Summary
Often surrounds the question, when is the fetus a person? . Thomson does not think that the conclusion follows it"s a bad argument. Skeptical that it"s possible to draw the line at when a fetus is a person. Argues that even if the fetus is a person, abortion can still be permissible. The thought is that, if the fetus is a person, then abortion is impermissible . Points out limitations of the argument for why if the fetus is a person, then abortion is impermissible . Does not follow that abortion is impermissible if the mother"s life is at risk if the fetus is threatening the life of the mother the mother is a person and persons have the right to self-defense. Mother has a right to defend herself (regardless of the fact that the fetus is morally innocent) Impartiality does not allow for a third-party to interfere third-party cannot choose who is allowed to live.
