Abortion: Points Of View :: essays research papers

Abortion Points of ViewIt is nearly impossible any longer to find someone who doesnt have anopinion about abortion, and probably a strong opinion at that. Yet the endless vies on the depicted object usually go nowhere, leaving the opponents even morecommitted to their positions and the open-minded observers confused. Both sides hazard a good case. An unwanted child is a pitiful thing, and the attendant socialproblems (single motherhood, financial destitution, child cast, and urbanovercrowding, to notice just a few) do not have easy solutions. On the other hand,the thought of terminating something that, if left to run its natural course,would ultimately pass on in the birth of a human being gives all besides the mosthard-hearted among us cause for serious introspection.One reason the debate goes nowhere is that each side focuses on adifferent topic. We make no progress because we atomic number 18 not talking about the equalthing. The pro-abortionist prefers to discuss choice, and to dwell on all of thesocial problems inherent in an unwanted child. The anti-abortionist isinterested primarily in protecting the animation of the fetus. In simple terms, thepro-abortionist focuses on a cleaning womans rights and the anti-abortionist focuses ona fetus rights. Though interrelated, these are basically different topics.Though neither side realizes it, there is truly much more agreementthan disagreement between the opposing views. The mass on both sides wouldagree that social problems wish well child neglect and urban overcrowding are seriousissues. Most would also agree that the life of a child is a precious thing thatdeserves the full rampart of the law. There would even be nearly universalagreement that it is a womans exclusive right to make decisions concerning her dust. So wheres the disagreement? The entire involved issue comes down to onequestionIs the fetus a soul? If you believe it is not a psyche, then it issimply part of the womans body and subj ect to her exclusive condition. From thispoint of view, any attempt to diminish that control is a cruel infringement upona womans rights. If, however, you believe the fetus is a person, then you areobligated to protect it, even to the point of delimiting the actions of thewoman carrying it. For you, the suggestion that this issue is a matter ofpersonal choice is like saying that whether or not a parent kills a two-year-oldis a matter of personal choice.The goal of these pages is to examine the abortion debate from several(prenominal)perspectives, focusing on the question of when the fetus life as a person