Introduction
The issue of whether abortion is morally justified is highly controversial and still gives rise to intense debate. Discussions are conducted even on a philosophical scale with the application of logically constructed arguments. However, there is no unanimity on this issue among proponents of opposite positions. Each one protects a particular virtue that contradicts the other. According to Gensler (1986), opponents of abortion advocate the value of innocent human life. At the same time, abortion proponents consider it necessary to protect women’s rights in the case of unintentional or involuntary pregnancy and consider other related instances. This paper examines the first and second-order reasons for abortion and analyzes their acceptability and reasonableness.
First Order Reasons
This category of reasons includes several situations in which pregnancy entails extremely negative experiences for the woman or has disastrous consequences. The first of these is an unwanted pregnancy due to rape. It should be noted that this case most clearly demonstrates the conflict between women’s rights and the value of an innocent child’s life. The second reason is the situation when the pregnancy endangers a woman’s life.
In the first instance, a woman is deprived of her right to make a choice, and in the second instance, she risks her life, which also makes her choices not entirely free. Gensler (1986) discusses the argument that no one can be burdened with an obligation unless it has been voluntarily confirmed. However, the author notes that some duties arise without voluntary consent and cites the example of a motorist who has a “special obligation toward a person he has injured in an accident” (Gensler, 1986, p. 88). In the case of a violent or threatening pregnancy, the woman is innocent, and therefore it is inappropriate to impose the obligation on her. The third reason is a severe mental or physical disability of the fetus. This implies a challenging experience and much effort for the mother of such a child. Thus, it should be noted that in all these cases, abortion should be the free choice of the woman. She should not be obliged since that choice is directly related to serious consequences in her life.
Second-Order Reasons
The reasons in this category are less radical and concern the morality of women’s freedom of choice in this area. The first reason regards the financial and social conditions that will not allow for the child or family to enjoy adequate well-being. It should be noted that the acceptability of this reason depends on the severity of financial and social difficulties. If they are very challenging, this situation will be close to first-order reasons. The two remaining reasons are the most controversial and relate to the career prospects and certain plans of the woman, which are violated by a potential pregnancy. For example, if a woman gets a unique opportunity to travel to Europe during her seventh month of pregnancy, she may want an abortion because she may become pregnant again. It seems that from an ethical point of view, the value of an innocent child’s life is more significant than a woman’s ambitions or desires. However, the final choice still has to be made by the woman, as pregnancy and childbirth have a primary impact on her life.
Conclusion
The issue of the acceptability of these reasons is highly controversial and may give rise to many conflicting arguments. At the same time, first-order reasons justify abortion to a greater extent than second-order ones. It may be concluded that despite the ethical arguments about the morality or immorality of abortion, the choice should be made by a woman, as it largely determines the potential consequences for her life.
Reference
Gensler, H. J. (1986). A Kantian argument against abortion. Philosophical Studies: An International Journal for Philosophy in the Analytic Tradition, 49(1), 83–98.