The Extreme View

The Extreme View

The Extreme View: Abortion is always impermissible, even to save the life of the mother.

Step 1:

1

Every fetus is a person.

 

 

2

Every person has a right to life.

 

Therefore

3

Every fetus has a right to life.

1&2

 

 

 

 

Step 2:

4

No being with a right to life may be killed.

 

Therefore

5

No fetus may be killed.

3&4

Why should we think that premise (4), No being with a right to life may be killed, is true? Thomson considers each of the following arguments, but shows that each is unsound.

First try: Directly killing an innocent person is morally impermissible.

 

1

Directly killing an innocent person is morally impermissible.

 

 

2

If (1) then (3)

 

Therefore

3

No being with a right to life may be killed

1&2

Second try: Directly killing an innocent person is murder and murder is morally impermissible.

 

1

Directly killing an innocent person is murder and murder is morally impermissible.

 

 

2

If (1) then (3)

 

Therefore

3

No being with a right to life may be killed

1&2

Third try: There is a greater obligation to refrain from directly killing an innocent person than there is to keep a person from dying.

 

1

There is a greater obligation to refrain from directly killing an innocent person than there is to keep a person from dying.

 

 

2

If (1) then (3).

 

Therefore

3

No being with a right to life may be killed

1&2

Fourth try: If the only options are to either directly kill an innocent person or let a person die, then it is better to let the person die.

 

1

If the only options are to either directly kill an innocent person or let a person die, then it is better to let the person die.

 

 

2

If (1) then (3).

 

Therefore

3

No being with a right to life may be killed

1&2