PHLB09H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Counterargument, Fetus, Danian
Document Summary
A defense of abortion , thompson (argues from a prima facie side) Everyone has a right to life, so the unborn person has a right to life . We"ll consider first 4 counterarguments: (all according to thompson, descending in terms of strength) Counterargument 1: mother who can"t survive pregnancy b. Worse to kill the fetus directly than to let the mother die b. ii. b. iii. b. iv. But then wrong for the mother to save herself. Two lives are threatened: (presumably, they both have an equal right to life) c. i. Both are innocent: the one who is threatened is not threatened because of any fault, the one who threatens does not threaten because of any fault. c. iii. Doesn"t follow threated person can"t defend herself d. A woman can surely defend her life against the threat to it posed by the unborn child. Permissible to save the mother, but can"t performed by third party: but if the third party can"t decide: b. i. b. ii.
