What is the ethical theory of abortion?

The two chief positions on the morality of abortion can be called the “pro-life” position and the “pro-choice” position. The basic pro-life position holds that induced abortions are morally impermissible (morally wrong, morally prohibited).

What does Consequentialism say about abortion?

On consequentialist grounds, abortion of a fetus that is a person may be justifiable in principle, but in most actual cases such an abortion is morally impermissible.

How would a utilitarian view abortion?

A common utilitarian argument goes this way: Anything having a balance of good results (considering everyone) is morally permissible. Abortion often has a balance of good results (considering every- one). Abortion often is morally permissible.

Is a fetus a person?

Ultimately, most people adopt a hybrid account of personhood, according to which an embryo is a non-person, while a late-term fetus is a person. Embryos have no capacity for sentience (yet alone consciousness), whereas a late-term fetus has basic capacities for processing stimuli from the external world.

What is the legal definition of an abortion?

Legal Definition of abortion 1 : the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus especially : the medical procedure of inducing expulsion of a human fetus to terminate a pregnancy.

What is abortion According to who?

The National Center for Health Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) define abortion as pregnancy termination prior to 20 weeks’ gestation or a fetus born weighing less than 500 g. Despite this, definitions vary widely according to state laws.”

What is a non-consequentialist perspective on abortion?

“Pro-life,” the non-consequentialist side, is the belief that abortion is wrong, generally because it equates to killing.

What is the principle of consequentialism?

Consequentialism is a theory that says whether something is good or bad depends on its outcomes. An action that brings about more benefit than harm is good, while an action that causes more harm than benefit is not. The most famous version of this theory is utilitarianism.

What does natural law say about abortion?

Whether inflicted upon the mother or upon the child, [direct abortion] is against the precept of God, and the law of nature: ‘Thou shalt not kill’. The life of each is equally sacred, and no one has the power, not even the public authority, to destroy it…