Thomson - A Defense of Abortion (2)

Introduction

• Judith Jarvis Thomson presents arguments in favor of abortion in her article, emphasizing the distinction between the fetus and personhood.

The Premise of Personhood

• Opposition to abortion often hinges on the belief that a fetus is a human being from conception.

• Thomson challenges this premise:

  • Questions the arbitrary nature of determining personhood at a specific point in fetal development.

  • Offers the acorn and oak tree analogy to argue that continuous development does not imply personhood.

  • Notes that the fetus develops human characteristics early in gestation but argues this does not equate to personhood.

The Moral Impermissibility Argument

• Thomson addresses the argument that if the fetus is considered a person, it has a right to life.

• Questions how opponents of abortion conclude that abortion is morally impermissible:

  • Asserts that merely declaring the fetus a person does not inherently grant it rights that outweigh the mother's autonomy.

The Violinist Analogy

• Presents the famous analogy of waking up connected to an unconscious violinist who needs kidneys to survive:

  • Emphasizes the unethical nature of forcing someone to maintain another's life against their will.

  • Encourages readers to consider the analogy in terms of kidnapping and lack of consent.

• Raises issues around pregnancy resulting from rape, arguing against the notion that the fetus’s right to life should outweigh the mother's right to her body.

Competing Rights

• Discusses the equal right to life for both the mother and the fetus:

  • Questions how to resolve situations where both have competing claims to life and suggests that flipping a coin is a ridiculous solution.

  • Challenges the idea that an abortion is impermissible even in life-threatening situations for the mother.

Direct and Indirect Killing Argument

• Analyzes common arguments against abortion, emphasizing the distinction between direct killing and allowing someone to die:

  • Suggests that allowing a person to die due to inaction is not the same as directly killing them.

• Critiques the idea of "direct killing" and how it is often misapplied to abortion arguments.

Woman's Right to Self-Defense

• Affirms the right of a woman to defend her life against threats, including those posed by pregnancy:

  • Argues that in situations where the pregnancy threatens the mother's life, she is justified in seeking an abortion.

• Challenges the idea that society or third parties should intervene in such personal matters.

The Special Responsibility Argument

• Explores the notion that motherhood imparts special responsibilities:

  • Argues that such responsibilities only exist if a woman has assumed them explicitly, not merely through biological relations.

• Emphasizes that women who take precautions against unintended pregnancies should not be unfairly burdened.

Minimally Decent Samaritan vs. Good Samaritan

• Defines two levels of moral responsibility:

  • Good Samaritan: Someone who goes above and beyond to help others.

  • Minimally Decent Samaritan: Someone who does the bare minimum to assist others, which is not enforced by law when it comes to third-party aid.

• Critiques the expectation that women must be Good Samaritans by carrying unwanted pregnancies to term.

Conclusion

• Thomson emphasizes that while some cases might warrant carrying a pregnancy to term, it is incorrect to apply a blanket condemnation to all cases of abortion.

• Ends by reminding readers that the arguments employed against abortion do not hold uniformly, particularly in cases that require comprehensive consideration of women's rights and autonomy.

Judith Jarvis Thomson presents a well-known argument in favor of abortion in her article by emphasizing the distinction between a fetus and personhood. She challenges the premise that a fetus is a human being from conception and questions the arbitrary nature of determining personhood at a specific point in fetal development. Through her famous analogies, particularly the violinist analogy, she illustrates that it is unethical to force someone to maintain another's life against their will, especially in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape.

Thomson argues that even if one considers the fetus a person, it does not automatically grant it rights that outweigh the autonomy of the mother. She discusses the competing rights of both the mother and the fetus, asserting that situations where both have claims to life require careful ethical consideration. Thomson also defends a woman's right to self-defense in the context of life-threatening pregnancies, positing that she is justified in seeking an abortion in such circumstances.

Overall, Thomson concludes that while some situations may warrant carrying a pregnancy to term, it is incorrect to categorically condemn all abortions, highlighting the importance of women's rights and autonomy in these discussions.