Ethics abortion paper
Noah Prouse
Ethics
November 5, 2013
Prof. Otwell
Abortion
Sometimes getting pregnant and having a baby is the greatest thing that can happen to someone and that’s all they have ever dreamed about. There are other cases however, in which pregnancy is not so happily received. A young woman, still in high school, would most likely not receive the pregnancy as well, and nor should she. What are her options once she does become pregnant? Based on John Stuart Mills ideas of Utilitarianism, he would condone an abortion because it is pain avoidance for the girl. Bishop Mortimer however, who supports Divine Command Theory, would absolutely reject the idea of abortion and tell the young girl to put the child up for adoption after it has been born. Is one of these ideas superior to another, or are they both equally acceptable. John Stuart Mill would definitely be in favor of abortion, because it coincides with his ideas of utilitarianism. The situation of the pregnant teenage girl I think follows all three principles of utilitarianism. The first principle is consequentialism which states that the moral rightness of an action should be judged based on the results. It might sound wrong to kill a fetus, but in the end it results in a better life for both. The second principle, hedonism, states the ultimate end of all actions or goal we strive for is pleasure and pain avoidance. Child birth is without a question one of the most painful things someone can endure, so it seems natural a teenage girl would want to avoid that, especially seeing how it would not be worth it at that point in her life to have a kid. The third principle, impartiality, declares she should bring about the greatest good for the greatest number. Since there are only two people, or potential people involved, the girl has the right to make either decision she chooses. Based solely on the three principles of utilitarianism, I would have to say that John Stuart Mill would agree with abortion.
Ethics
November 5, 2013
Prof. Otwell
Abortion
Sometimes getting pregnant and having a baby is the greatest thing that can happen to someone and that’s all they have ever dreamed about. There are other cases however, in which pregnancy is not so happily received. A young woman, still in high school, would most likely not receive the pregnancy as well, and nor should she. What are her options once she does become pregnant? Based on John Stuart Mills ideas of Utilitarianism, he would condone an abortion because it is pain avoidance for the girl. Bishop Mortimer however, who supports Divine Command Theory, would absolutely reject the idea of abortion and tell the young girl to put the child up for adoption after it has been born. Is one of these ideas superior to another, or are they both equally acceptable. John Stuart Mill would definitely be in favor of abortion, because it coincides with his ideas of utilitarianism. The situation of the pregnant teenage girl I think follows all three principles of utilitarianism. The first principle is consequentialism which states that the moral rightness of an action should be judged based on the results. It might sound wrong to kill a fetus, but in the end it results in a better life for both. The second principle, hedonism, states the ultimate end of all actions or goal we strive for is pleasure and pain avoidance. Child birth is without a question one of the most painful things someone can endure, so it seems natural a teenage girl would want to avoid that, especially seeing how it would not be worth it at that point in her life to have a kid. The third principle, impartiality, declares she should bring about the greatest good for the greatest number. Since there are only two people, or potential people involved, the girl has the right to make either decision she chooses. Based solely on the three principles of utilitarianism, I would have to say that John Stuart Mill would agree with abortion.