Lee vs Boonin: Abortion Debate Notes

Lee vs Boonin: Abortion Debate

Overview of the Debate

• The debate centers around the moral and philosophical implications of abortion, spearheaded by Patrick Lee and David Boonin.

Patrick Lee's Perspective

• Definition of an Embryo:

  • An embryo is defined as a human organism, formed when a sperm unites with an ovum during fertilization.
  • This union ceases the existence of sperm and ovum as distinct entities, leading to the creation of a new organism that is one-celled and called an embryo.
  • Key Attributes of Embryo:
  • The embryo is a distinct and whole being.
  • The embryo qualifies as human, possessing rights due to being a rational being.

• Rights of the Embryo:

  • Lee argues that embryos have rights based on the potential for rationality.
  • Although embryos have not yet developed the capacity to reason, they possess all the inner dispositions necessary to achieve reasoning given the right environmental circumstances.

David Boonin's Counterargument

• Hypothetical Fetus Rights:

  • Even if a fetus is granted a right to life, Boonin posits that this does not equate to a right to be sustained or kept alive.
  • He uses the analogy of bone marrow transplants to illustrate this point.

• Bone Marrow Transplant Analogy:

  • Boonin poses a scenario where he, needing a bone marrow transplant, cannot morally compel someone else to donate despite his need.
  • If someone were unwittingly providing bone marrow to him under duress (e.g., being kidnapped), they would not be obligated to continue this act of assistance, parallel to a woman in an unwanted pregnancy.

Objection and Response

• Objection to Boonin's Analogy:

  • Critics argue that pregnancy usually results from a voluntary act (sexual intercourse), unlike the involuntary context of the bone marrow example.

• Boonin's Modification of the Analogy:

  • In response, Boonin modifies his example to suggest a voluntary commitment to help, where one might choose to start giving bone marrow.
  • The critical point he highlights is that, even if assistance was initially voluntary, the person can withdraw consent at any time during the procedure, similar to a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy after engaging in an act that could lead to conception.

Summary of Positions

• Lee holds that the embryo has inherent rights due to its status as a human organism, while Boonin counters that the right to life does not automatically confer a duty to sustain life indefinitely, highlighting the complexities of moral obligations in pregnancy scenarios.