Abortion: Is it a Part of Society? - Essay Sample

Abstract

Society is built by morals and ethics that all follow and help develop a peaceful coexistence; this enables the members in the community to have an established path in solving problems. This notion then begs the question, do we all agree on some fundamental way that specific issues within the society should be handled? Does abortion have a place in society? Indeed, every individual will have a different feeling about how such cases should be handled.

Abortion can be defined as the event through which the existence of an embryo is terminated. This termination can occur in either a medical procedure or a natural phenomenon that ends the embryo's life. Events such as the illness of the expectant mother can cause the unborn to die. Furthermore, the fetus can be terminated due to accidents which induce shock. In most of these natural causes, men are not subjected to the process of making a decision, and thus, there is no rational way of arguing the fate.

Nonetheless, on some occasions, the society is tasked with making the decision that will either uphold or end the life of the infant. During these scenarios, making the right choice can be very challenging. For instance, who is the person tasked with making the decision? Or, do we even have the capacity to decide who lives and who dies? Most importantly, is what factors should be considered before a decision is reached. In such dilemmas, man becomes dependant on their morality and the potential outcomes of the decision.

Introduction

Since life is precious, I firmly believe that abortion should not be encouraged. Through abortion, the individual is denied the opportunity to have an experience. It is more common than not that today's women and more so the youth are taking advantage of the 'rights' to their bodies and using them to promote ill behavior. Having an abortion opens the channel through which irresponsible sexual behavior is fostered as the youth do not fear the potential consequences. Through abortion, the value of life is hugely diminished into a poor decision rather than a precious gift it is. I, therefore, feel that the choice of taking an abortion should not be reliant on the mother but rather should be based on the best interest of humanity.

There are situations under which the procurement of abortion is vital. Medically, some women are unable to carry the embryo successfully due to various other factors. However, during these instances, the option for abortion should be considered as advised by the physician. Similarly, the age, mental condition, and financial ability of the potential parent can be a hindrance to the welfare of the child. If the child will suffer as a result of some degenerative infection or when the condition under which the embryo is at the womb would bring danger to the mother, then termination can be done.

Abortion can also be done if the continued existence of an embryo could end the life of the mother. In this event, the choice of having an alternative way of birth, such as premature delivery, should be considered. The decision made on a medical perspective should be acceptable as it will provide for the safety of the mother as a priority than the fetus. Governments also play a crucial role in deciding what laws are presented to guide the decisions on the subject (Zhang, 2017). For instance, the Chinese Government ordered the use of abortion and sterilization for the execution of its 1978 One-Child policy.

Explanation of the Ethical Theory

In the pursuit of having a 'proper' way in which decision is made, several philosophers have devised theories that guide on what to consider when judging a decision. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill were the protagonists behind the evolution of utilitarianism. They believed that decisions made by individuals should be based on their repercussions on society at large and not on self-interest. Utilitarianism provides that when making a decision, one should consider how their choice not only affects the present but also how it affects those in the future (Lyons, 2015). The consequences of an opportunity should be weighed from the time the decision is made, the results coming from the immediate execution of the action.

Bentham and Mill also argued that the action should not be weighed according to what society considers an ordinary act. Furthermore, having bad results does not directly mean the act was terrible. The decision for an action to be made should be solely evaluated from how it results in either happiness or pain. Consequentially, having an otherwise good deed does not guarantee that it will produce joy for all. Contrary to egoism, utilitarianism promotes the evaluation of the whole affected group rather than an individual's (Hollander, 2016). If the action by a person will affect society, then the society's benefits and shortcomings together with the person should be put into account.

At the end of the 19th century, Henry Sidgwick rose to dispute some of the arguments posed by Bentham and Mill. At the advent of utilitarianism, it was believed that motivation is a massive factor in the choice of individuals to do a specific action. Furthermore, it was agreed that morality should not be part of what is used to evaluate whether a work is good or bad. Through reflecting on what is generally thought of as right, an individual can choose to go ahead with a decision or not. Also, a conclusion can be made by individuals regardless of the result of pain or happiness. Henry believed that having a pragmatic approach means going for the option that will majorly provide not only ones good but others too.

Application of the Ethical Theory

The decision to procure an abortion based on the practical approach should be a restricted form. In most of the religions and social settings, taking away life is considered harmful and should be shunned. However, as depicted by Bentham and Mill, the consequences of abortion should be weighed based on how it affects society and the individual. Similarly, a comparison between the effects and benefits of the action should be put into account. In the event of a fatal impact on the mother, the best response is to terminate the pregnancy. Having such benchmarks through which society can weigh the best cause of action encourages not only the consideration of morality but also the provision of everyone's well being.

Abortion should not be entirely dependent on the decision of one person or institution. As depicted earlier, there are events when the party tasked with making such crucial decisions fail and are biased towards their cause. The Chinese Government went ahead with making abortion and obligation for mothers having their subsequent pregnancy without putting into consideration the effect on the women (Zhang, 2017). The administration of abortion, especially involuntarily, comes with enormous side effects. These women are forced through a painful experience and will need bed rest to recover, and the procedure also escalates the level of risk of infection. Several studies have shown that abortion results in uterine perforation, which in turn may cause subsequent illnesses such as cancer. In conclusion, using the utilitarian approach, society can make rational decisions and better develop the interest of all rather than individual gain.

References

Lyons, D. (2015). Utilitarianism. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118785317.weom020088

Hollander, S. (2016). Ethical Utilitarianism and The Theory of Moral Sentiments: Adam Smith in Relation to Hume and Bentham. Eastern Economic Journal, 42(4), 557-580. https://doi.org/10.1057/s4130

Zhang, J. (2017). The evolution of China's one-child policy and its effects on family outcomes. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(1), 141-60. DOI: 10.1257/jep.31.1.141