Abortion

This chapter introduces the history of the Roe v Wade decision and its aftermath, so as to discuss the ethics of abortion. One particularly disturbing phenomenon in recent years has been the bombing of abortion clinics, yet through the use of a trolley scenario, I posit that it is not coherent to consider abortion a form of murder and at the same time condemn the bombing of abortion clinics. Furthermore, by considering various trolley scenarios—and other thought experiments—originally formulated by Judith Jarvis Thomson, I discuss the extent to which abortion may be considered a legitimate form of self-defense. While these arguments do not necessarily hinge upon the personhood status of fetuses, this chapter also discusses some of the arguments for and against the idea that embryos and fetuses can be considered persons with moral rights.