Analyse and interpret the pro-life and pro-choice perspective on abortion Essay Example

and cognitive traits. Therefore, two critical questions need answering: What do humans consist of? Can people exist without an intrinsic essence that makes them human?

There are two philosophical solutions to the questions at hand: Monism and Pluralism. According to Monism, each individual is composed of a single substance - either mind or body. On the other hand, Pluralism argues that every being has both mind and body, as seen in Descartes' theory of 'Dualism' (Beauchamp and Childress, 2001). Monists believe that humans are made up of physical substance only, while Pluralists take a holistic approach believing vital essence is a combination of mind and body - even including the concept of 'soul'. These beliefs have significant implications when it comes to determining foetal status. Physical substance supporters focus solely on the physical aspects of the foetus whereas for Pluralists it is important when the foetus possesses both mind and body (Lee, 2000). This leads to ethical considerations surrounding pro-life/pro-choice debates such as whether a zygote-embryo-foetus can be considered alive or human. Both movements agree that this entity is living; characterized by its biological system's ability to convert nutrients into energy for cell multiplication (www.).

The pro-life movement holds the central belief that 'life begins at conception' due to the presence of the necessary elements to create a fertilized cell containing all DNA essential for potential personhood. This belief cannot be denied, as evidenced by the 23 chromosomes from both egg and sperm. In response, the pro-choice movement argues that other single cells, such as the amoeba, are also capable of transforming nutrients and oxygen into energy for growth and division.

Despite the similarities in their

complete DNA, the amoeba and human zygote differ in their developmental paths. While the amoeba always remains an amoeba, the zygote has the potential to become a human being (www.lroy.net). In debates surrounding abortion ethics, it is evident that several factors come into play beyond determining personhood at a specific moment. A commonly disputed matter is whether or not the fetus can be deemed as human and if so, when this status is attained (www.lroy.net).

Pro-life advocates believe that the foetus is a human being from the moment of conception due to the genetic merging of both parents' DNA, resulting in unique DNA for the developing embryo (www.religioustolerance.org). On the other hand, pro-choice proponents challenge this definition by arguing that a newly formed zygote lacks physical and cognitive abilities such as sight, taste, hearing, smell, limbs or internal functions. They also point out that even after one month of gestation period, it's hard to differentiate an embryo from those of cats and dogs (Jenkins, 2002).

The status of a zygote as a human person is debated among 'pro-life' activists. One argument suggests that the existence of unique DNA in the zygote changes its status, but this can be challenged by the fact that hair follicles also contain unique DNA and are not considered potential human persons. Viability is crucial in determining when a foetus could be recognized as 'human'. If it could survive independently from its mother, a foetus would become a 'baby' or 'child' and lose its foetal status. (www.lroy.net)

The progress being made in medicine suggests that the viability of a foetus will continue to occur earlier, causing challenges in using viability as

a criteria to define foetal humanness (Lee, 2000). Additionally, the issue of rights, both legal and human, is viewed as significant concerning abortion.

According to www.abortionrights.org.uk, pregnant women have certain rights while the zygote-embryo-foetus has no legal rights until birth when it becomes an individual.

The pro-life movement believes that personhood begins at conception, granting the foetus human rights, including the right to life. Abortion is seen as taking a life, except in certain circumstances. Pro-lifers argue that the foetus's right to life is more important than the mother's since they consider life sacred and only God should take it (Donnellan, 1997).

On the other hand, the pro-choice advocates reject this position by stating that the foetus is not yet human and therefore has no rights. They claim that life starts either at birth or when viable. Pro-choice supporters prioritize women's rights over those of the foetus if there are health risks involved. Their argument centers on women having autonomy over their bodies (Lee, 2000).

The European Court ruled in 2004 that a woman who had an unintended abortion did not have the right to life as outlined by the European Convention of Human Rights. The reasoning behind this verdict was due to the fact that the six-month-old foetus was not considered human (http://news.bbc.co.uk). This essay will assess both pro-life and pro-choice viewpoints on abortion, utilizing gathered evidence, to determine which perspective is more reliable.

The decision to undergo an abortion can be emotionally challenging and is often influenced by personal beliefs. While understanding the reasons behind this choice may be difficult, it is not impossible. It should be noted that choosing to have an abortion

may result in physical and emotional scars.

References: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/3878135.stm http://www.quickoverview.com/issues/abortion-debate.html http://religioustolerance.org/abo_when2.htm