Judith Thomson A Defense Of Abortion Summary

Within the scope of abortion, and too ethics, religious ideals and politics take strangle-hold on the opinions of all. Judith Thomson, presents 'A Defence of Abortion' through a process of thought experiments and 'reasonable' reactions or thoughts to such absurd hypothetical situations. As absurd as they may be, they shine a bright light on where modern society places itself on the moral pendulum, in relation to abortion ethics. However is Sarah morally obliged to carry her unwanted child to term? This essay will delve deep into arguments from Thomson. To create an ethically just answer to such a morally loaded question. Morals and ethics are based on societal norms and practices.

Thomson opens up with 'The Violinist' thought experiment...
Or in relation to Sarah, that she can not have an abortion in order to avoid and medical complications the pregnancy may have is also ludicrous. As one can not decipher between one scenario nor the other as it is the same consequence. Thomson concurs, “but it cannot seriously be thought to be murder if the mother performs an abortion on herself to save her life. It cannot seriously be said that she must refrain, that she must sit passively by and wait for her death.”11 Sure a bystander can not choose between Sarah's life or the foetus, however, Sarah has every right to choose in this case. The same can be applied to the 'The Violinist'
Lets assume Sarah has a bright career in this company, as her job does indeed throw a 'Christmas Party', which would suggest it is a well-off company making some profits. Carrying this unwanted pregnancy would be detrimental to her professional well-being, and ultimately her quality of life. Her 'intrinsic goods', such as her pleasures, 'could' diminish and her life 'could' take a turn for the worst. Even more so if the biological father does not agree to support the pregnancy. Does her life, and her quality of life, now, not be taken into consideration for abortion? Thomson has another thought experiment to bring to the table, imagine people are born by seedlings drifting through the air and taking root randomly, “you don't want children, so you fix up your windows with fine mesh screens, the very best you can buy. As can happen, however, and on very, very rare occasions does happen, one of the screens is defective; and a seed drifts in and takes root. Does the person-plant who now develops have a right to the use of your house?”14 Now Sarah used to take the contraceptive pill, she now does not, we do not know whether there was medical complications or not. However, we do know that Sarah, like the screen, has made a rare mistake on a rare occasion. If it were a random root growing in your living room, that root that eventually would turn into a human would indubitably not have any rights to your home.