Three Positions on Abortion - Essay Example

Abortion: The Moderate Position. Abortion is one of the most contentious ethical issues in contemporary society. It polarizes public opinion, and there is a tendency for individuals and groups to adhere to rigid stances, which do not admit any compromise. The three main positions on abortion are the conservative, the liberal and the moderate. The conservative stand rejects abortion at any cost. This position is largely based on religious beliefs regarding the sanctity of life. Conservatives also cite the ‘slippery slope’ argument, where the right to end life could be extended to other situations, such as euthanasia. The liberal position permits abortion unconditionally. Liberals accept various justifications for abortion, including the woman’s right to make decisions over her own body, the quality of life of fetus and mother, and monetary and career considerations. The conservative and liberal positions are both reflections of the uncompromising rigidity which often characterizes any debate on the issue of abortion. On the other hand, the moderate position on abortion recognizes the moral implications it entails, and acknowledges that the rights of the mother and the fetus are in conflict in this situation. Moderates accept the need for abortion, but limit their acceptance to situations entailing deformity in the fetus, health risks to the mother, and cases of rape and incest. I agree with the moderate position on abortion because of its attempt to reconcile two extreme stands. The moderate position appeals to me as it represents a genuine attempt to reconcile two opposing viewpoints: the conservative and the liberal. It avoids a rigid stance which does not permit a consideration of contrary opinions. In my opinion, the area of religion and morality is very subjective, and cannot be viewed in terms of black and white: many areas are gray. In this context, the moderate position on abortion is very reasonable in its stance. It concedes the central argument of both sides. On the conservative front, the moderate position respects the traditional religious sentiments which emphasize the sanctity of life of the unborn fetus. At the same time, it rightly rejects the conservative call for a ban on abortion even in such cases as fetal deformity and incest. From the liberal perspective, the moderate position accepts that several mitigating factors, largely concerned with the well-being of the mother, can justify the overruling of the right-to-life of the fetus. However, it rejects a casual attitude towards the suffering of the fetus. This middle-of-the-road position ensures that the issue of abortion can be taken on a case-by-case basis. After all, each case has its own unique circumstances, and the conservative stand of unilaterally ruling out abortion is unacceptable. For example, if the pregnancy poses a risk to the health of the mother, abortion can be justified. Similarly, moderates do not condone abortion out-of-hand. This sets curbs on the overly permissive liberal position, which could generate a laissez-faire attitude towards casual sex and pregnancy. Abortion without any restrictions would lead to sexual permissiveness and lack of responsibility. The moderate position approaches the issue of abortion without any preconceived ideas of morality, and adopts a non-judgmental stand which particularly appeals to me. Just as the moderate position on abortion is a calculated compromise between two extreme viewpoints, it incorporates several ethical approaches into its deliberately balanced stand, and rejects any rigidity. The moderate position, by nature of its flexibility, and willingness to accept compromise, rejects the Deontological Ethical Approach, because the latter emphasizes rigid moral obligation. Moral obligation, without any consideration of the resulting consequences, is foreign to moderates. Similarly, moderates reject the Intuitive Approach, based on the perception that this approach is often individual morality, or personal prejudices, painted in stubborn tones of ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’ Like the Deontological Approach, the Intuitive Approach too is characterized by a rigid adherence to a point of view, without allowing any consideration of opposing arguments. From the Consequential point of view, the moderate position concedes, and regrets, that the act of abortion has the end result of destroying the fetus. At the same time, moderates acknowledge that abortion is justified in some cases, as the consequence of the abortion is often the improved quality of life of the mother. The moderate position on abortion mainly incorporates the Rights Approach to the ethics of abortion, particularly the ethical concepts of autonomy and reason. In line with the concept of autonomy, moderates hold that normal adults can effectively decide their own morality, and take independent moral decisions. Individuals have the right to choose their own course of action. It is the moral right of the individual to expect society to respect his personal choices. Similarly, the moderate position on abortion rejects theological and philosophical grounds, choosing to favor the use of reason to make a calculated decision on the necessity of abortion in each case. Both conservatives and liberals disagree with the moderate position on abortion. While the conservative position is in total opposition to the moderate in terms of rigidity, and the predominantly religious connotations of its ethics, the liberal position on abortion has more common grounds. In fact, a moderate would have greater sympathy for the liberal stand than for the conservative position. However, a liberal would have several points of contention regarding the moderate position. Liberals base their argument almost unilaterally on the Rights Approach to ethics. While moderates also recognize the autonomy of the mother to exercise choice over her actions, this recognition is qualified by an equal recognition of the rights of the fetus to life. Liberals would argue that this conditional support of abortion is unacceptable. The foundation of the Rights Approach is the freedom of choice. In this context, individual autonomy is inalienable, and cannot be conditional. Any limitations imposed on a woman’s choice to abort her pregnancy amounts to curtailing her autonomy in choosing her course of action. This is an infringement of her rights and is ethically wrong. The woman has the right to prioritize the parameters of her life, and to choose a career over motherhood. Having an abortion is her decision to make, and any attempt to limit her freedom is an assault on her dignity, and her right to bodily integrity and right to privacy. A liberal would argue that an abortion is justified not just in hard indications, such as fetal deformity and rape, but also for soft reasons, such as the woman’s wish to limit the size of her family. After all, it is the woman who will be the primary care giver to the child, and this makes her best qualified to make a decision on having an abortion. From the perspective of the Consequential Approach to ethics, liberals would argue that the well-being of the mother is the result of an abortion. Conversely, forcing a woman to go through an unwanted pregnancy would lead to the consequence of an unwanted child, and mental suffering on the part of the mother. The moderate position on abortion is an attempt to reconcile the conservative and liberal stands on this contentious and socially polarizing issue. It makes an ethically justified argument, based largely on the Rights Approach. It also concedes that the conservatives and liberals have a point, and is willing to be considerate towards their views. The moderate position on abortion is the most judicious stand in the three positions on abortion, and is best suited to the needs of contemporary society. Works Cited. “Three Positions on Abortion.” Shannon and Kockler. 4th edition. 81-82. Read More