Abortion (philosophy & Judaism)

Question 1

Until when was abortion illegal in most countries & why was it not normalised before

Answer 1

-until the middle of the twentieth century

Religious:
-most religious objections centred on the ‘murder’ aspect
-progressive attitude would have been similar due to social norms

Moral:
-a child was a joyous celebration, if you did not want it there must have been an immoral path to get there otherwise you would be happy

Question 2

The right to choose: when & what

Answer 2

-grew in 1960’s-70’s growth of the movement to enhance women’s rights
-one major goal was the legalisation of abortion and the right for ‘abortion on demand’

Question 3

Main arguments in favour of abortion

Answer 3

-women have a moral right to decide what to do with their bodies
-vital for gender equality
-individual women to achieve their full potential (be equal to men in the market place)
-banning it puts women at risk due to illegal abortionists
-should not affect her work life, it should be a part of the contract (e.g maternity leave)

Question 4

Roe vs Wade (1973)

Answer 4

-a non married couple became pregnant, the man wanted to keep it but the woman wanted to abort it
-they went to court to argue that it should wholly be a woman’s choice
-‘A pregnancy to a woman is one of the most determinative aspects of her life, it disrupts her body, education, employment, and family life’

Question 5

Judith Jarvis Thompson

Answer 5

-support of Rowe vs Wade
-a tiny blob of tissue in a woman’s stomach should not take precedence over a woman’s will