Applying ethical theories to abortionLO: I will use my previous knowledge of Natural Law, Utilitarianism, Kantian Ethics and Christian Ethics to draw some conclusions on abortion

Hmk: Read and make notes on the JJ Thompson article

Stages of development

•See handout

The process in animation

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hwKIsxs15A

•We will watch around 7 minutes

Personhood and the status of the foetus •Tasks pg 194 and 196/7 of Bowie handout

What constitutes a person?• Page 139 of AS textbook. What do you think?

Why?• Write a paragraph giving your response to the

above statement.

The abortion clinic •A woman in her mid 20’s wants an abortion.

She is single, and fell pregnant to her now ex boyfriend. She is 2 and ½ months pregnant. She works in a call centre, and rents a flat.

•As councillor, you need to react from a Utilitarian, Christian, Natural Law and Kantian perspective

▫Use Oliphant handout plus pg 144-145 of AS textbooks to help

Natural Law

•Preservation of life•Unborn child has same status as existing

life

Kant

•Treat people as ends not means•Abortion ok if foetus not a reasoning

person•Abortion wrong if mother does it to get on

with her own life•Humans have intrinsic worth

Christian ethics• Sanctity of life• Child as God’s gift• Can’t intervene when God hasn’t allowed you

to• RC – evil, against natural law and God, has

same status as humans• C/E – all unique so abortion evil but

compassion for extremes• Methodists – evil but lesser of 2 evils

Utilitarianism• Happiness vs. pain• Focusses on the outcome• Life doesn’t have intrinsic value• Preference Utilitarianism considers preference

of mother, the harm to other family members etc.

• Foetus – potential person not a person

More food for thought …

•http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/is-abortion-ever-necessary/5929.html

Begin to read the Thompson article

▫ Write down 3 or more bullet points on what the article is about

▫ Write down one thing you have learnt▫ Write down one thing that you disagreed with / would

challenge.▫ Write down a question that the article left you asking