abortion: complex issue or moral wrong?. homework assignments: (due mon., 1/25) parent interview...

Abortion:Abortion:

Complex IssueComplex Issue

OrOr

Moral Wrong?Moral Wrong?

Homework Assignments:Homework Assignments: (due Mon., 1/25)(due Mon., 1/25) Parent Interview Parent Interview

& Reflection Paper (see & Reflection Paper (see instructions on sheet)instructions on sheet)

(due Tues., 1/26) (due Tues., 1/26) Read article by Read article by Mahony & write 2 prgh reflectionMahony & write 2 prgh reflection

(due Weds., 1/27) (due Weds., 1/27) Read “How to Read “How to Prove…” article & write opinionProve…” article & write opinion

(Thurs., 1/28) (Thurs., 1/28) Slightly oversized Slightly oversized “quiz” on notes & readings“quiz” on notes & readings

The One Relevant The One Relevant Question…Question…

““What is the Unborn?”What is the Unborn?” Why?…Why?… It answers every possible It answers every possible

objection…objection…

Most common objections:Most common objections:

1.1. ““Abortion is a private matter between Abortion is a private matter between a woman and her God.”a woman and her God.”

2.2. ““Many poor women cannot afford Many poor women cannot afford another child.”another child.”

3.3. ““If abortion is restricted, women will If abortion is restricted, women will die from back-alley abortions.”die from back-alley abortions.”

4.4. Women should not be forced to bear Women should not be forced to bear an unwanted child.”an unwanted child.”

5.5. ““You shouldn’t force your morality on You shouldn’t force your morality on women.”women.”


1.1. ““Abortion is a Abortion is a private matter private matter between a between a woman and her woman and her God.”God.”


2. “Many poor 2. “Many poor women women cannot afford cannot afford another another child.”child.”


3. “If abortion is 3. “If abortion is restricted, restricted, women will women will die from die from back-alley back-alley abortions.”abortions.”


4. Women should not be forced to 4. Women should not be forced to bear an unwanted child.”bear an unwanted child.”


5. “You shouldn’t force your 5. “You shouldn’t force your morality on women.”morality on women.”

““What What isis the unborn? the unborn?

““If the unborn are not human, no If the unborn are not human, no justification for elective abortion is justification for elective abortion is necessary. But if the unborn are necessary. But if the unborn are human, no justification for elective human, no justification for elective abortion is adequate.”abortion is adequate.”

-Gregory Koukl-Gregory Koukl

7 weeks…7 weeks…

What is the “true picture” What is the “true picture” of abortion?of abortion?

The pro-choice often treats with The pro-choice often treats with contempt the pro-lifers’ practice of contempt the pro-lifers’ practice of holding up to our faces their holding up to our faces their disturbing graphics… But how can disturbing graphics… But how can we charge that it is vile and repulsive we charge that it is vile and repulsive for pro-lifers to brandish vile and for pro-lifers to brandish vile and repulsive images if the images are repulsive images if the images are real? To insist that truth is in poor real? To insist that truth is in poor taste is the very height of hypocrisy. taste is the very height of hypocrisy.

Besides, if these images are often Besides, if these images are often the facts of the matter, and if we the facts of the matter, and if we then claim that it is offensive for then claim that it is offensive for pro-choice women to be confronted pro-choice women to be confronted with them, then we are making the with them, then we are making the judgment that women are too judgment that women are too inherently weak to face a truth inherently weak to face a truth about which they have to make a about which they have to make a grave decision. This is a view grave decision. This is a view unworthy of feminism.”unworthy of feminism.”

--Naomi Wolf, --Naomi Wolf, The New RepublicThe New Republic

feminist & abortion rights activistfeminist & abortion rights activist

In other words…In other words…

““If something is so horrifying we If something is so horrifying we can’t stand to look at it, perhaps we can’t stand to look at it, perhaps we shouldn’t be tolerating it.”shouldn’t be tolerating it.”

--Gregg Cunningham--Gregg Cunningham

Executive Director,Executive Director,

The Center for Bioethical The Center for Bioethical ReformReform

So, what So, what is is the unborn?the unborn?

The Catholic Christian position:The Catholic Christian position:

Human life is a continuum beginning Human life is a continuum beginning at conception and ending at at conception and ending at natural death.natural death.

The Pro-Life position…The Pro-Life position…

is scientifically soundis scientifically sound is philosophically soundis philosophically sound

Why scientifically sound?Why scientifically sound?

1.1. The unborn entity is genetically The unborn entity is genetically distinct from its parents (distinct from its parents (Possesses Possesses active (inherent) capacity to active (inherent) capacity to develop into embryo>infant>adult)develop into embryo>infant>adult)

Not “fertilized egg”, but self-Not “fertilized egg”, but self-integrating human organismintegrating human organism

No change in substance/nature, only No change in substance/nature, only in formin form

Not potential human, but human w/ Not potential human, but human w/ potentialpotential

Why scientifically sound?Why scientifically sound?

2.2. The unborn has human parents! The unborn has human parents! (and each living thing produces (and each living thing produces after its own kind –principle of after its own kind –principle of biogenesis)biogenesis)

To find out what a thing is, ask To find out what a thing is, ask “What are its parents?”“What are its parents?”

Human parents can only produce Human parents can only produce human offspringhuman offspring

If you reject the If you reject the arguments,arguments,

You must explain two things:You must explain two things:1.1. What the unborn What the unborn actually actually is is

2.2. How two human beings can create a How two human beings can create a separate being that is separate being that is not not human, human, but later becomes onebut later becomes one

Why philosophically Why philosophically sound?sound?

The unborn does differ from The unborn does differ from newborn, but are those differences newborn, but are those differences morally relevant?morally relevant?

What are the differences?What are the differences? S.L.E.D.: S.L.E.D.: SSizeize

LLevel of developmentevel of development

EEnvironmentnvironment

DDegree of dependencyegree of dependency

abortion: complex issue or moral wrong?. homework assignments: (due mon., 1/25) parent interview...

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