Kant s Ethical Theory Of Abortion Essay - 1266 Words

Philosophy 5. What do you think Kant’s ethical theory tells us about the morality or immorality of abortion? Is it clear what utilitarianism tells us about abortion or euthanasia? Throughout the previous thirty-eight years ago since the U.S Supreme Court legalized abortion as a medical procedure, the topic of abortion has spurned several heated debates both socially and politically. In such a heightened contemporary context, it would be rather appropriate to consider the moral application of Immanuel Kant’s philosophy, one of the greatest minds in the eighteenth centuries, to the enduring morality debate over abortion. Setting the discussion regarding the morality and immorality of abortion within the Kantian ethics framework provides one with a view that transition from the frequently inflammatory pro-choice and anti-abortion discussion points and towards a deep lucid, philosophical argument of such a controversial topic. Kant’s ethical theory regarding the immorality of a bortion highlights that every individual is endowed with some sense of dignity and respect. Based on Kant’s theory, all human behaviors as well as actions are done simply because are considered the right and appropriate things to be done. Additionally, people’s behaviors and actions are weight in terms of their moral appropriateness instead of any other terms or grounds. Kant would assert that the act of abortion is definitely immoral considering the fact that killing another person is illegal and thusShow MoreRelatedAn Overview Of The Ethical1407 Words   |  6 Pagesï ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Abortion: An Overview of the Ethical ï ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼11/1/2015 Randy St.Cyr PHIL200 Introduction to Ethics Dr. Carrie Pettermin Issues ï ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼ ï ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼ÃƒËœÃ¯Æ'Ëœ Various philosophers through the centuries have had a tremendous impact on the way modern society thinks. ØïÆ'Ëœ Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) influenced modern thinking with his â€Å"God is dead† philosophy. This meant that there was no longer any room for God in an enlightened and civilized society. ØïÆ'Ëœ John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) helped popularize the philosophy ofRead MoreThe Ethical Issues Of Abortion1847 Words   |  8 PagesVarious ethical issues result from abortion, however the main one s to be discussed are regarding whether abortion is considered the taking of human life, the mental state of a woman becoming a mother, and whose decision is it to determine whether they should be permitted. Ultimately, the most significant concepts surrounding abortion relate to the Value of Human Life and The Principal of Individual Freedom. The Value of Life refers to the idea that our lives are a basic ownership. Every personRead MoreCritically Evaluate Medical Ethics And Legal Issues1263 Words   |  6 Pagesmedical ethics and legal issues that govern good patient care. Health care professionals must make decisions based on ethical and legal issues to performance their regular duties. However, Medical ethics is not only about avoiding harm to patients. It is rather a norms, values and principles (Ethical theories 2015). Therefore norms, values and principles are intended to govern medical ethical conduct. Ethics is defined as â€Å"a standard of behaviour and a concept of right and wrong beyond what the legal considerationRead Morecategorical imperative2232 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Explain with examples, Kant s theory of the Categorical Imperative Kant believed that there is an objective moral law this meant, he did not depend on a point of view. If there is a moral law there is a duty to obey this law. To act morally, it is necessary to have a good will for example to help someone just because it would be the right thing to do in the certain situation. Morality is made up of categorical imperatives meaning that you should do something simply because they are theRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Death Of A Fetus1505 Words   |  7 Pagesprinciples which dictate what is considered as morally ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy through a medical procedure which results in the death of a fetus. Within ethics, there are many arguments as to whether abortion should be permitted in society as many regard it as an act of murder and others simply see it as a decision that should be given to the mother only. The issue of abortion remains to be one of the most controversial topics in society, whichRead MoreUtilitarianism Vs. Kant s Deontology2126 Words   |  9 PagesConsequence and Principles: Utilitarianism vs. Kant s Deontology Both utilitarianism and deontology are normative ethical theories. Normative ethics is a branch of philosophical ethics that investigates the set of questions that arise when considering how one should morally act. (Meriam Webster Dictionary, 1) Utilitarianism and deontology have often been discussed throughout the history of ethics, and both have had many adaptations of the concepts. Utilitarianism is defined as a doctrine that theRead MorePlanned Parenthood : A Funded Program1712 Words   |  7 Pagesstages. Also, accessible birth control leads to a decline in abortion rates because less unwanted pregnancies exist. Not only does birth control prevent pregnancy but also provide women with actual health benefits including: a decreased risk of ovarian cancer, help with ovarian cysts and help with painful menstrual cycles.1 THE SEPARATION OF RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT A specific service provided by Planned Parenthood is abortion. Although abortion is legalized in America, it is still a controversial issueRead More Kant and Mills Theories Essay example2128 Words   |  9 PagesKant and Mills Theories In July of 1994, Paul J. Hill, a former Presbyterian minister and later a pro-life activist, was prosecuted for killing Dr. John Britton, an abortion performing doctor, and James Barrett, a volunteer, outside a clinic in Pensacola, Florida. Prior to this, Hill commented on the murder of Dr. David Gunn, another abortion performing doctor, stating that it was a â€Å"biblically justified homicide (P. 215).† This statement shows how strong Hill’s beliefs were and leads one toRead MoreEthical Code And Ethical Codes1259 Words   |  6 PagesA personal ethical code is something everyone has. People may be aware of it to different degrees, or have differing levels of definition, but no one is entirely unprincipled. Ethical codes may be based off different factors such as religion, society, and family. My personal ethical code is derived from simply one source, the writings of Immanuel Kant. I find that the code described by him is the only one that is truly justified, and the refore the only one I would be able to follow without cognitiveRead MoreThe, The Population Bomb, By Paul Ehrlich2041 Words   |  9 PagesIn the 1960’s America was in a period of extreme growth along with other developing countries. There were major concerns and even hysteria about the population surge. Policymakers, demographers, and the military all thought that the biggest threat to mankind was the rise in humans. They came up with many reasons, but it was agreed at the time that drastic measures would be needed to control the growth. The author of the book, â€Å"The Population Bomb†, Paul Ehrlich pointed out the parents of Indian and