ABORTION ANNOTATED BIBLOGRAPHY 2
Abortion Annotated Bibliography
Horache Allen
Chamberlain College of Nursing
ETHC445N: Principle of Ethics
Nov 2018
Running head: ABORTION ANNOTATED BIBILOGRAPHY 1
ABORTION ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 3
Abortion Annotated Bibliography
When hearing the topic abortion, it raises a lot of questions. Is it unethical? Is it right and if so, what makes it right? Abortion has become a huge ethical issue for many different reasons: medical, economics, or choice. Some people feel it should be legalized and used when necessary, but the choice is up to the mother. Others believed it should be banned because it is killing another human being. Throughout this paper, I will summarize 5 articles that explore whether its morally correct to have an abortion.
1. Kant’s Categorial Imperative
Yudanin, M. (2015). Can Positive Duties be Derived from Kant's Categorical Imperative?.
Ethical Theory & Moral Practice, 18(3), 595-614. doi:10.1007/s10677-014-9546-4
In the following article, Yudanin (2015) talks about the Kant’s ethical philosophy, the Categorial Imperative. The Categorial Imperative is expressed in two formulations. Number one, “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law”. This basically means don’t be a hypocrite. Don’t hold other people to standards that you wouldn’t hold yourself to. Second, “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means." In easier terms this means, do unto others as you will have them do unto you or treat people how you want to be treated. Kant believed that all laws must be “formal and applicable to every possible situation” (596). Applying the Kant’s morals to abortion will lead to it being unethical. Abortion can’t be universal because the decision is personal, and morals and values are different for everyone.
2. Should there be exceptions for abortions?
Cohen, I. G. (2015). Are All Abortions Equal? Should There Be Exceptions to the Criminalization of Abortion for Rape and Incest? Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 43(1), 87–104. https://doi-org.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/jlme.12198
There’s always been question on whether abortion should be accepted in certain situations. Being victim of rape or incest is a such a horrifying experience, so I can only imagine how women feel who become pregnant from it. In this article Cohen (2015) take a stand and says that “all abortions are equal”. No matter what, abortion is in fact abortion. It’s the same process no matter what the circumstances is leading up to this decision and should be treated the same across the board. Cohen states two reasons why there should be no exception for abortion “Fetuses has rights as a person” and “the interest of the mother doesn’t outweigh her fetus’ right of inviolability” (p.88). I believe Cohen is right. Although the b...
