Single Idea 6999

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 3. Abortion]

Full Idea

We allow that abortion is permissible in many circumstances, but infanticide is hardly ever permissible, and yet it is hard to justify this disparity in moral judgement in the sense of finding the relevant difference.

Gist of Idea

It is hard to justify the huge difference in our judgements of abortion and infanticide

Source

Frank Jackson (From Metaphysics to Ethics [1998], Ch.5)

Book Reference

Jackson,Frank: 'From Metaphysics to Ethics' [OUP 2000], p.134


A Reaction

The implications of this are tough to face. A foetus is (maybe) just not as important as a new-born babe - and so a new-born babe is of less importance than a five-year old. Birth is (or was) a hugely dangerous hurdle to be cleared.