Topic 8 - A Rights Oriented Position on Abortion

What claim does Thomson reject?

That one person’s right to life takes precedence over another person’s right to decide what happens in and to their body.

Present Thomson’s counterexample and explain why it refutes the claim that one’s right to life takes precedence over another person’s right to decide what happens in and to their body.

The Famous Violinist: You are kidnapped and plugged into a famous violinist suffering from a fatal kidney disease. To unplug would kill the person, but after nine months they can be safely unplugged. The case is morally analogous to the case of abortion. If it is morally permissible to unplug from the violinist then it is morally permissible to get an abortion.

What does NRT imply about Thomson’s Famous Violinist case?

NRT implies that it would be morally permissible to unplug because you are not morally required to provide any service to keep the violinist alive. The violinist has no rights against you as NRT does not include positive rights.

What does AU imply about Thomson’s Famous Violinist case?

AU implies that you should stay plugged in because the good of saving the violinist’s life outweighs the discomfort you will face over the nine months, therefore maximizing utility.

In your opinion, which theory has the correct implications in the Famous Violinist case, NRT or AU?

NRT because I don’t think you should be required to help the violinist at such a high cost to yourself.

State Thomson’s Positive Argument for the permissibility of abortion.

P1. It is morally okay for you to unplug yourself from the violinist.

P2. Unplugging yourself from the violinist is morally on par with a woman’s having an abortion.

C. Therefore, it is morally okay for a woman to have an abortion.

What is the most common objection to Thomson’s Positive Argument?

The Responsibility Objection

State the morally relevant difference between the Violinist case and the typical unwanted pregnancy case that the Responsibility Objection puts forth.

The woman is partly responsible for the fact that there is an individual who needs her body to survive, but in the Famous Violinist you are in no way responsible because you were kidnapped and plugged in without your knowledge.

Describe the Hunting Accident case and explain why it shows this difference is morally relevant.

You are out hunting. You know there is a chance you could shoot a person by accident. You accidentally shoot a trail runner. The only way they will survive is if you are plugged into her for nine months. Your responsibility for shooting the runner or for a pregnancy can make you morally obligated to aid the individual’s survival.

Is the Hunting Accident a good objection to Thomson’s Positive Argument?

No, just because you know there is a chance of pregnancy due to having intercourse does not mean you should then be totally held responsible and morally obligated to the individual’s survival. If you leave your window open, there’s a chance of burglary, but that doesn't make you responsible for being burgled.