more on this theme
|
more from this text
Single Idea 4672
[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 3. Abortion
]
Full Idea
If a foetus or baby has a poor chance of a worthwhile life, it may be directly wrong not to replace it by a baby with a better chance - though this consideration may be outweighed by side-effects.
Gist of Idea
Apart from side effects, it seems best to replace an inadequate foetus with one which has a better chance
Source
Jonathan Glover (Causing Death and Saving Lives [1977], §11.1)
Book Ref
Glover,Jonathan: 'Causing Death and Saving Lives' [Penguin 1982], p.140
A Reaction
I can't disagree with this. In early pregnancy, if we object to termination, why can't we object if the more 'worthwhile' child is not conceived. We want good human lives.
The
41 ideas
from Jonathan Glover
4648
|
'Death' is best seen as irreversible loss of consciousness, since this is why we care about brain function
[Glover]
|
4649
|
If someone's life is 'worth living', that gives one direct reason not to kill him
[Glover]
|
4650
|
The quality of a life is not altogether independent of its length
[Glover]
|
4651
|
Utilitarians object to killing directly (pain, and lost happiness), and to side-effects (loss to others, and precedents)
[Glover]
|
4652
|
If killing is wrong because it destroys future happiness, not conceiving a happy child is also wrong
[Glover]
|
4654
|
Autonomy favours present opinions over future ones, and says nothing about the interests of potential people
[Glover]
|
4655
|
If a whole community did not mind death, respect for autonomy suggests that you could kill them all
[Glover]
|
4656
|
A problem arises in any moral system that allows more than one absolute right
[Glover]
|
4657
|
Double Effect: no bad acts with good consequences, but possibly good acts despite bad consequences
[Glover]
|
4658
|
Acts and Omissions: bad consequences are morally better if they result from an omission rather than an act
[Glover]
|
4659
|
It doesn't seem worse to switch off a life-support machine than to forget to switch it on
[Glover]
|
4660
|
Harmful omissions are unavoidable, while most harmful acts can be avoided
[Glover]
|
4661
|
What matters is not intrinsic value of life or rights, but worthwhile and desired life, and avoidance of pain
[Glover]
|
4662
|
Defenders of abortion focus on early pregnancy, while opponents focus on later stages
[Glover]
|
4663
|
If abortion is wrong, it is because a foetus is a human being or a person (or potentially so)
[Glover]
|
4664
|
If abortion is wrong because of the 'potential' person, that makes contraception wrong too
[Glover]
|
4666
|
If viability is a test or boundary at the beginning of life, it should also be so for frail old people
[Glover]
|
4665
|
Conception isn't the fixed boundary for a person's beginning, because twins are possible within two weeks
[Glover]
|
4667
|
How would we judge abortion if mothers had transparent wombs?
[Glover]
|
4669
|
Persons are conscious, they relate, they think, they feel, and they are self-aware
[Glover]
|
4668
|
You can't have a right to something you can't desire, so a foetus has no 'right' to life
[Glover]
|
4671
|
What is wrong with killing someone, if another equally worthwhile life is substituted?
[Glover]
|
4672
|
Apart from side effects, it seems best to replace an inadequate foetus with one which has a better chance
[Glover]
|
4670
|
Being alive is not intrinsically good, and there is no 'right to life'
[Glover]
|
4674
|
It is always right for a qualified person to perform an abortion when requested by the mother
[Glover]
|
4673
|
Abortion differs morally from deliberate non-conception only in its side-effects
[Glover]
|
4675
|
The sanctity of life doctrine implies a serious increase of abnormality among the population
[Glover]
|
4676
|
The 'no trade-off' position: killing is only justified if it prevents other deaths
[Glover]
|
4679
|
One test for a worthwhile life is to assess the amount of life for which you would rather be unconscious
[Glover]
|
4680
|
Autonomy seems to acquire greater weight when the decision is more important to a person
[Glover]
|
4681
|
The Nazi mass murders seem to have originated in their euthanasia programme
[Glover]
|
4683
|
Involuntary euthanasia is wrong because it violates autonomy, and it has appalling side-effects
[Glover]
|
4682
|
Euthanasia is voluntary (patient's wish), or involuntary (ignore wish), or non-voluntary (no wish possible)
[Glover]
|
4684
|
Maybe extreme treatment is not saving life, but prolonging the act of dying
[Glover]
|
4685
|
Societies spend a lot to save known persons, but very little to reduce fatal accidents
[Glover]
|
3784
|
Duty prohibits some acts, whatever their consequences
[Glover]
|
3785
|
You can't separate acts from the people performing them
[Glover]
|
3786
|
Aggression in defence may be beneficial but morally corrupting
[Glover]
|
3783
|
How can utilitarianism decide the ideal population size?
[Glover]
|
3787
|
Rule-utilitarianism is either act-utilitarianism, or not really utilitarian
[Glover]
|
3782
|
Satisfaction of desires is not at all the same as achieving happiness
[Glover, by PG]
|