A Kantian Approach to Abortion

Abstract

A discussion of the problems of establishing the morality of abortion, arguing that the most basic problem is to determine if the fetus has properties that might prohibit its being killed. A Kantian ethical theory is constructed through which abortion is shown to be, in general, morally wrong in ordinary cases; the question then becomes whether exceptions should be allowed. Related issues are also discussed, including how population limits should be achieved, whether certain fetuses should be given preference over others, & the interests of the fathers & the medical personnel performing the abortion. In Hare on Abortion, R. B. Brandt (U of Michigan, Ann Arbor) finds fault in the premise that the major issue should be determining the future potentialities of the fetus, & concludes that the problem of deciding the morality of abortion cannot be resolved as claimed by Hare. In Abortion: Reply to Brandt, Hare agrees that several issues should have been articulated more clearly, & introduces a new argument, which, through critical Kantian-utilitarian thinking, makes the original position clear. 5 References. C. Grindle (Copyright 1990, Sociological Abstracts, Inc., all rights reserved.)