Philosophy, et cetera 2008-07-27

Abortion Vetoes

It's uncontroversial that women should not be forced to have abortions against their will. For one thing, this follows from a general right of veto against invasive medical procedures. But we may also think there is a second reason, namely that it would be a great harm to a prospective mother to kill her cherished "unborn child" (her "baby", as she thinks of it), and all her plans for their future together -- plans which may have taken on a central role in her life story and 'identity' as she conceives of it.This second reason would also seem to apply to the prospective father, though perhaps in a slightly muted fashion. The father is not so intimately acquainted with his "unborn child" -- though if he has felt its kicks through its mothers belly, seen ultrasound images of its little ...

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