Unit 4 Ethics

Abortion

Abortion

The intentional termination of human pregnancy or the willful destruction of an unborn human child

What is the key question to the morality of abortion?

When is an unborn fetus a human being?

Five views of when the unborn becomes a human person.

Post-birth, birth, viability, critical organs, and conception

Post Birth View

Meets these demands: being aware of itself, can desire and plan for things, must want to go on living, decision making and. Can distinguish between suffering and satisfaction.

Birth View

The fetus is not human until after it exits the womb.

Viability view

The view that if the baby would survive and have a significant chance of living after a delivery that would be somewhat premature then it is a

Critical Organs View

The baby has a heartbeat and formation of the early brain and nervous system, making it a human life

Conception view

As soon as the fertilized egg is planted a unique human being is being formed

How did the early church approach abortion in comparison to the Greco-Roman world?

In the Greco-Roman world, abortion and infanticide were morally acceptable and widely practiced. The early church tho, prohibited all forms of abortion and infanticide and were directly opposed to it.

Lex Talionis

eye for an eye law coming from Exodus 21. It is the law of retaliation. The punishment should fit the crime.

Two types of euthanasia

passive euthanasia and assisted suicide

The 6 perspectives

Principle, personal, pastoral, public, policy, and prophetic

Principle Perspective Question

How is someone approaching scripture?

Personal Perspective Question

What experiences-past and present-are shaping the way someone sees an issue?

Pastoral Perspective Question

How do we practically care for people who are impacted by this issue?

Public Perspective Question

What does this issue reveal about our culture?

Policy Perspective Question

What kind of society are certain laws and policies seeking to make possible?

Prophetic Perspective Question

How do we speak up for people who are overlooked because of the way an issue is handled?

Arguments for the death penalty

Executions have become less barbaric (lethal injection, moving away from electrocution, etc.), the murderer has forfeited his innocence by taking an innocent human life, imprisonment doesn't fully do justice, advanced forensic research eliminates doubt about incorrect accusation, provides some measure of closure for the victim's family, and for Christian's "the turn the other cheek comment" doesn't have the context of physical violence so it doesn't apply in concepts of murder.

Arguments against the death penalty

Possibility of error, Unfair use of discretion , Misplaced vengeance, Weak public support, Little deterrent effect, No hope of rehabilitation, Race, gender, and other bias , Causes more crime than it deters , It is brutal , It is expensive, Morally wrong, Supposed to turn the other cheek as Christians

Arguments for euthanasia

People have freewill, they should have the right to end their own pain and suffering, through euthanasia, Jesus taught "Love your neighbour" - helping someone to end their suffering through assisted suicide could be the most loving thing to do (Situation Ethics), If people have a very poor quality of life, it be more compassionate to end a person's suffering, Doctors can switch off life support machines when someone is declared brain dead and judges can decide to end someone's treatment if the medics believe they are never going to regain consciousness

Arguments against euthanasia

life is a gift only God can take away, undermines the medical profession by eroding trust of patients in their providers; undermines society's commitment to care for the dying opens the door to abuse of the frail, disabled, and economically disadvantaged, slippery slope: acceptance of euthanasia for comatose, demented, handicapped, or competent persons without their consent