PHILOS 341 Lecture Notes - Henry Fonda, Fetus
Notes 2/5
Expand the Argument (bottom right pg 124)
1. Let’s claim a fetus is a person from the moment of conception
2. “every person has a right to life”
3. therefore, a fetus has a right to life
4. the mother has a right to decide what happens to her body
5. a person right to life is stronger than more stringent that a mothers right to decide what
happens to her body
6. so, a fetus may not be killed and an abortion may not be performed
What is a right within this argument?
- It’s an entitlement to either have something or to act in a certain way
Case of Violinist
- This makes #5 always true
- This analogy is pregnancies that are due to rape
Different variations of the violinist cases (starts at pg 125)
Extreme view
- An abortion even for the sake of saving the mother’s life is morally permissible. The
argument is killing vs letting die.
- Killing is far worse and absolutely prohibited but letting die is not as bad
- Aborting the child because it would involve killing an innocent is absolutely not
permissible
Page 126
Abortion is Murder
- In involves killing
- It involves an injustice
Tiny House
- A mother is trapped in a very tiny house and there is a rapidly growing child inside of it –
she will be crushed by the child
Winter Coat
- 2 people are freezing to death and are tasseling who gets to have the winter coat – the
problem is that the coat belongs to smith so its disingenuous to say “we can’t decide
who gets to have the coat” when the coat does belong to smith
pg 128
Henry Fonda Example
Suppose you are dying of a fever and all you need to cure ur fever is to have this handsome
actor lay your hand on your head and you will be saved. Do you have a right that he come in
from Hollywood and save your life? No
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Document Summary
Expand the argument (bottom right pg 124: let"s claim a fetus is a person from the moment of conception, every person has a right to life . It"s an entitlement to either have something or to act in a certain way. This analogy is pregnancies that are due to rape. Different variations of the violinist cases (starts at pg 125) An abortion even for the sake of saving the mother"s life is morally permissible. Killing is far worse and absolutely prohibited but letting die is not as bad. Aborting the child because it would involve killing an innocent is absolutely not permissible. A mother is trapped in a very tiny house and there is a rapidly growing child inside of it she will be crushed by the child. Suppose you are dying of a fever and all you need to cure ur fever is to have this handsome actor lay your hand on your head and you will be saved.
