PHL 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Virtue Ethics, Fetus, Zygote
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2 May 2020
Department
Course
Professor
The ethics of abortion
Virtue Ethics→ An act is morally acceptable just in case a virtuous person, acting in character,
would do it in that circumstance
Doctrine of the Mean
Deficiency
Mean
Excess
Fool hardy
Courage
Cowardly
Miserly, stingy
Generosity
Profligate, indulgent
Strengths of virtue theory
- Plausible that internal state is relevant to praiseworthiness and rightness
- Attractive and realistic view of moral education
- Gets a lot of cases right
Weakness of virtue theory
- Adequate moral guidance?
- Who are the exemplars of virtue?
The ethics of abortion
Abortion – The termination of a fetus (zygote, embryo) or pregnancy that results in the death of
the fetus.
3 different questions
1. Is abortion access protected by the US Constitution?
2. Should abortion be legal – should abortion be protected?
3. Is abortion ever morally okay?