Moral Philosophy Final Exam - Topic 2 - Thomson on Abortion

Thomson’s “Famous Violinist” thought experiment

You wake up attached to a world-famous violinist whose kidneys are failing. Only your blood can save him, and it takes nine months. If you unplug, he dies. Thomson argues you are not morally required to stay attached, as his right to life doesn't give him a right to use your body

Right to Life

The right to not be killed unjustly

“Rapidly Growing Child” Analogy

It defends abortion in cases where the mother’s life is at risk. If a child is growing so fast in a small house that it will crush you to death, you have the right to defend yourself and "eject" the threat from your "house" (body)

“People-Seeds” Analogy

It addresses abortion in cases where contraception fails. If "people-seeds" drift through the air and take root in your carpet despite you installing fine mesh screens (contraception), they do not have a right to your house just because you knew the screens might fail

The Good Samaritan vs. Minimally Decent Samaritan

A good samaritan goes far out of their way at great personal cost to help. A minimally decent samaritan does the bare minimum required by morality. Thomson argues laws should not force women to be "Good Samaritans" when no one else in society is legally forced to be

According to Thomson, does the right to abort include the right to ensure the fetus is dead?

No. Thomson’s argument only supports the right to detach the fetus from one’s body. If the fetus were somehow viable after being detached, the mother would have no right to demand its death

Extreme View on Abortion

The position that abortion is impermissible even to save the mother's life. It assumes the fetus's right to life always outweighs the mother's right to life and body.

Standard View on Abortion

The common argument that because a fetus is a person from conception, it has a right to life that makes abortion morally wrong in almost all cases

Right to Body

The right to decide what happens in and to one’s own body. Thomson argues this right can justify "detaching" a fetus even if it has a right to life

Reasonable Precautions

Efforts taken to prevent a specific outcome (like using contraception or "mesh screens" on windows). Taking these precautions suggests you have not granted the "seeds" or fetus a right to use your space

Right to Life Argument Against Abortion

It posits that a fetus’s right to life is absolute

Responsibility Argument Against Abortion

It claims that by engaging in voluntary sex, a woman is responsible for the fetus's existence and therefore owes it the use of her body

Thomson’s Response to the Right to Life Argument Against Abortion

Thomson counters that having a right to life does not include the right to use another person’s body against their will, much like the famous violinist has no right to your kidneys

Thomson’s Response to the Responsibility Argument Against Abortion

Thomson evaluates this using the "People-Seeds" analogy, arguing that taking precautions limits this responsibility

Causal Responsibility to Abortion

You are the biological cause of the fetus's existence

Moral Responsibility to Abortion

You have a specific moral obligation to sustain that life

Thomson’s Argument about Causal vs. Moral Responsibility

Thomson argues that being the causal agent (e.g., through consensual sex) does not automatically create a moral obligation to provide "body-life support" for nine months, especially if precautions were taken