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Aborton, Genetic Control, Euthanasia & Religion

We have come to think of the abortion debate as a confrontation between conservatives and liberals, with conservatives favoring the restriction of access to abortion and liberals favoring relatively free access to abortion services. However, Sidney Callahan described another debate, one that is occurring among liberal feminists.

Her fundamental argument is that free access to abortion is not a requirement for women's social and political equality and, furthermore, that it might be counterproductive in the effort to achieve those ends. She explored the opposing viewpoints by setting forth the basic arguments of each side.

For the pro-choice feminists, she chose Harrison and Petchesky as exemplars of the position. There basic arguments rested on four moral claims: (1) that women have the right control their own bodies, (2) that there was a moral necessity of autonomy and choice in personal responsibility, (3) that the fetal life has contingent, rather than intrinsic, value, and, (4) that women have a moral right to full social equality.

For the pro-life feminists, she also sets forth several moral claims which are fundamentally different from those of the pro-choice feminists. The arguments do not exactly contradict the previous arguments, but state the issue in different terms. Thus, the pro-life feminists assert that (1) there needs to be a more inclusive ideal of justice, (2) an expanded sense of responsibility, (3) a moral claim for the intrinsic value of human life, and (4) a belief on the moral right of women to full social equality -- from a pro-life feminist perspective. This last is an important caveat.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Callahan's position? Let us look at each of the four basic arguments in turn.

Right to control one's own body. Callahan's arguments are an interesting mixture of the good and the bad. She is on sound ground when she discusses growth and development as a continu...

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Aborton, Genetic Control, Euthanasia & Religion. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 13:52, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1691288.html