Essay Philosophy: Pregnancy and Life

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Edward Kabia
3-9-2012
Philosophy Final Paper Abortion to me is morally wrong. Being raised in a religious home and having a strong moral background, I firmly believe that abortion is not an option. I value life more than anything in this world and it is wrong for another human to end another human being’s life. A philosopher like Judith Jarvis would agree with me and I quote “Most opposition to abortion relies on the premise that the fetus is a human being, a person, from the moment of conception. Furthermore, in the tenth commandment, God says, "Thou shall not kill," but yet millions of women continue to have abortions. The natural law plays a great role in teaching or being a guide to help my reasoning in saying that abortion is wrong. God has created life even before conception and having an abortion is going against the will of God. To be more specific in Genesis chapter one verse 28 it was stated very clearly as follow "and God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (King James Version, Genesis 1:28). According to natural law no one is allowed to take a life which he did not create or cannot create. Humans cannot create nor destroy life. God dictates everything people do and it’s based on their actions that he would classify them as morally right/ just humans or someone who has no morals/ unjust. Life is the most precious thing that God has given us and that is why no men born of a woman can create life. So with that being said death as God would have it should come naturally, not by human whim. However, from an egoist (Aristotle) standpoint he might argue that women should be able to decide whether to have an abortion or to not have an abortion because they have to carry that child for nine months and it’s their body. The reason he would claim this is due to life circumstances such as teenage pregnancy, low social economic status, and personal values. In addition, Aristotle might also claim that all humans are born with God given rights and as long as what they decide to do with their lives doesn't affect another person then they are free to do what makes them happy. In contrast as Martin Luther King's quotes states, "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." So abortion does not only affect the unborn fetus, its affects the mother who is carrying the unwanted pregnancy. However, Judith Jarvis might oppose Aristotle and claim that this still does not make it right. If a woman does not want to conceive then she should prevent herself from getting pregnant by using contraceptives that would prevent pregnancy. Whatever the reason is why women select abortion, it does not justify their action. However, Aristotle would totally disagree with me on this issue because he believes in individuality and the freedom for one to do as one chooses or pleases. His philosophy in this matter would solely be concern over what the woman carrying the pregnancy would want to do with the pregnancy.
Furthermore, based on his theory he might argue that if a fetus cannot survive outside the body then having an abortion is not wrong whether one looks at it from an ethical or moral point of view. Aristotle strongly feels like it should be up to a woman to decide whether to have an abortion or to keep the pregnancy. In this ethical issue opposition might also argue that it is their body and they (women) have the right to choose whether to bring another life into this world or to abort it. The greatest of all evil is indeed selfishness. To act in one's own self-interest, rather than acting as a means to the ends of others is the mere role of an egoist which Aristotle seems to portray. In contrast, Judith Jarvis argued that many women who have had an abortion feel tremendous guilt afterwards. Children are a gift of blessing from God and
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