Hard Cases Final Fall24

human life is sacred, all are equal, our bodies are on loan to us, preservation of life is the highest moral imperative

Newman (Jewish)

PGD is accepted under conditions of risk of harm to the child, tradition believes in reproductive freedom (to be fruitful and multiply), abortion and genetic enhancement is typically not okay

Popovsky (Jewish)

coping with uncertainty (Jewish)

encourages science and technology, cautious of arrogance

coping with difference and disorder (Jewish)

a child is to be loved unconditionally the way God made them

reproductive freedom should be seen as an attempt to choose life, fulfilling reproductive freedom

Dissent (Jewish)

sharia

principles that govern the daily lives of muslims

Fiqh

islamic jurisprudence/insight

Fatwas

opinions of religious laws, not binding or legally enforced in most cases

IVF is acceptable, only if the couple uses their own gametes and/or uterus. anything else is considered adultery and it is forbidden to confuse family lineage, third party donation is prohibited

1980 Sunni Fatwa

third party involvement of IVF is allowed, it doesn’t require “lustful looking or interment touching” that adultery does, mut’a marriage is also an option

1999 shi’a fatwa

four noble truths (buddhist)

1. life is characterized by suffering (impermanent)

2. suffering has a cause, desire (for permanence)

3. suffering can be eliminated by eliminating it’s cause (desire rooted in ignorance)

4. there is a path that leads to the elimination of the cause of suffering

eight fold path

prioritizes wisdom, compassion, and mental discipline

first precept

killing/harming sentient beings is prohibited

dharma

universal law that governs buddhist physical and moral universe

gandharva

spirit that descends into the zygote

a zygote is a pre-sentient being, abortion can qualify as compassionate if the pregnancy causes suffering

Barnhart (Buddisht)

intentional killing (abortion) at any stage violates the first precept

Keown (Buddhist)

mennonites

known for commitments to non-violence, simplicity, care and comfort for anyone in need

babies (and all humans) are a gift from God and gifts to God, belonging to God. love your neighbor as yourself, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly

Dufault-Hunter (Christian Ethics)

Catholic principle of double effect

the action must not be intrinsically evil, you must only intent the good effect of the action, the good must out weight the bad