Don Marquis- Why Abortion is Immoral
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
What is Marquis' argument for the impermissibility of abortion?
answer
P1: It is immoral to kill a being like me. P2: If P1 then killing a fetus is immoral P3: Abortion is killing a fetus. C: Abortion is immoral.
question
According to Marquis, why is it wrong to kill adult humans? That is, what explains the wrongness of killing?
answer
It deprives them of their future. That is a very serious moral wrong. This straightforwardly explains why it is wrong to kill infants and children.
question
Why is Marquis not committed to saying that active euthanasia is wrong in the way killing a healthy adult human is wrong?
answer
Euthanasia is a good killing. Killing for the good of the person being killed. That is so only if the person being killed does not have a future like ours.
question
What is one serious problem with the sanctity of life theory of why killing is wrong?
answer
It is always wrong to kill. All killings are equally wrong. That's implausible.
question
What is one serious problem with the personhood theory of why killing is wrong?
answer
It is wrong to wantonly inflict pain on animals. Kant: That's because it hardens one and makes them more likely to inflict pain on humans. But, why should it harden someone? It is wrong. Only if it is wrong independent of it hardening us towards humans would it harden us. If not, it would not harden us.
question
Marquis says that his theory of why it is wrong to kill does not rely on the \"invalid inference that, since it is wrong to kills persons, it is wrong to kill potential persons also\". Explain what he means.
answer
Killing persons is wrong. Abortion is killing a potential person. Depriving one of its future and all the experiences which come with the future is wrong. Abortion does that. No appeal to personhood.
question
How does Marquis' theory of wrongness of killing also explain the wrongness of wanton infliction of pain on animals?
answer
You are causing suffering. It has to do with how you affect one's experiences.
question
Why is it significant that Marquis' theory explains the wrongness of wanton infliction of pain on animals?
answer
It is a complete theory. Any theory which cannot capture the wrongness of wanton infliction of pain on animals is incomplete.
question
What is Kant's theory for why it is wrong to kill animals?
answer
It hardens us. Makes us more likely to be inflict pain and suffering against humans.
question
What is the problem with Kant's theory?
answer
His theory is correct only if we assume that it is wrong.
question
Why is it important for Marquis to show that Kant's theory cannot be correct?
answer
He is not relying on the premise that fetuses are humans. Kant says that something is wrong only if it affects humans.
question
What is the discontinuation account or theory of the wrongness of killing?
answer
It is wrong to kill because it discontinues life.
question
What is one problem with the discontinuation account of killing?
answer
It does not distinguish between beings with futures like ours and beings who have bleak horrible pain and unnecessary suffering filled futures.
question
Why is it important for Marquis to show that the discontinuation account of killing is incorrect?
answer
Abortion will not be wrong.
question
What is the desire account or theory of the wrongness of killing?
answer
Killing it wrong because it goes against our desire to continue to live.
question
What is one problem for the desire account?
answer
It is ok to kill someone who lacks that desire.
question
Why is it that Marquis' theory of wrongness of killing does not commit him to saying that contraception is wrong?
answer
There is nothing there who has a future like ours.
