Judith Jarvis Thomson | Eine Verteidigung der Abtreibung | Geiger-Analogie und weitere Analogien

Summary

This video revisits Judith Jarvis Thomson's 1971 essay 'A Defense of Abortion' in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, examining her thought experiments challenging the moral and legal obligations around abortion. Thomson concedes the fetus's personhood but argues against an unconditional duty to preserve life, using analogies to explore scenarios where self-determination conflicts with the fetus's right to life. The video invites viewers to consider the nuances of the abortion debate, prompting reflection on individual rights and moral responsibilities.

Takeaways

• 📜 The US Supreme Court overturned the general right to an abortion on June 24, 2022, leaving the decision to individual states, many of which have since banned abortions.
• 🧐 American philosopher Judith Jarvis Thomson is known for her thought experiments and moral philosophy, particularly her 1971 essay 'A Defense of Abortion', which is widely read and discussed.
• 🤔 Thomson's essay challenges the common argument against abortion by accepting the premise that a fetus is a person but questioning the moral obligation to preserve its life.
• 🎻 The 'violinist' analogy is used by Thomson to illustrate that recognizing a person's right to life does not necessarily imply a moral obligation to keep them alive using one's own body.
• 🚫 Thomson argues against the idea that a woman should be morally or legally obliged to fulfill a supererogatory obligation to preserve the life of an unborn child.
• 🤝 The debate often centers on whether the physical self-determination of the pregnant woman or the life of the child is more important, with Thomson rejecting a one-size-fits-all answer.
• 🚼 Thomson's argument does not support an unconditional right to life for the fetus, suggesting that the mother's right to self-determination can outweigh the fetus's right in certain cases.
• 🏠 The 'burglar' and 'human seed' analogies are used to argue that causal responsibility does not equate to a right to use another person's body, even in the case of failed contraception.
• 🤰 Thomson posits that a woman only has special responsibility towards a fetus if she has expressly or tacitly assumed it, and that the biological relationship alone does not confer such responsibility.
• 🙅‍♀️ Thomson's theory does not provide a blanket approval or disapproval of abortion; instead, it allows for specific moral considerations on a case-by-case basis.
• 🔚 At the end of her essay, Thomson suggests that very early abortions do not involve the killing of a person, thus not being affected by her arguments.

Q & A

What significant event occurred on June 24, 2022, regarding abortion rights in the United States?

On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the general right to an abortion, leaving the decision on abortion rights to individual states.

Who is Judith Jarvis Thomson and what is her contribution to the philosophy of abortion?

Judith Jarvis Thomson (1929-2020) was an influential American philosopher, particularly in moral philosophy, known for her thought experiments. Her 1971 essay 'A Defense of Abortion' is a widely read and discussed text in contemporary philosophy, where she explores the legitimacy of abortion through various thought experiments and analogies.

What is the 'Roe vs. Wade' ruling and its significance in the context of abortion rights in the United States?

The 'Roe vs. Wade' ruling in 1973 by the Supreme Court established that abortion before the 12th week of pregnancy could not be criminalized, even if individual states wanted to. This ruling was significant as it affirmed a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, a decision that was later overturned in 2022.

What is the common argument against abortion and how does it logically conclude that abortion is morally wrong?

The common argument against abortion is based on three premises: P1 - A person has the right to life, P2 - A fetus is a person and has a right to life, and P3 - An abortion intentionally causes the death of the fetus. From these, it concludes (K1 and K2) that deliberately causing the death of a fetus, and thus abortion, is morally wrong.

What does Thomson's argument concede in the debate about the moral status of the fetus?

Thomson's argument concedes premise 2 of the common argument against abortion, accepting that the fetus is a person from the moment of conception and has a right to life, in order to refute the argument from a different angle.

What is Thomson's primary method of argumentation in her essay 'A Defense of Abortion'?

Thomson primarily uses thought experiments and analogies to challenge the notion of an unconditional moral duty to keep people alive, focusing on the question of whether such a duty exists in the context of unwanted pregnancies.

What is the 'violinist' analogy and what does it aim to illustrate in the context of the abortion debate?

The 'violinist' analogy is a thought experiment where a person is kidnapped and connected to an unconscious violinist who needs their kidneys to survive. It aims to illustrate that even if one recognizes another person's right to life, it does not necessarily imply a moral obligation to keep them alive at the expense of one's own bodily autonomy.

What is the concept of 'supererogatory' in philosophy and how does it relate to Thomson's argument?

Supererogatory refers to actions that go beyond what is morally obligatory, exceeding what is reasonable for an individual. Thomson uses this concept to argue that staying connected to the violinist (or carrying an unwanted pregnancy) would be a supererogatory act and not a moral obligation.

What are the two scenarios Thomson considers where the fetus might have a right to use the pregnant woman's body?

Thomson considers two scenarios: 1) If the pregnant woman grants the fetus such a right, as in a desired pregnancy, and 2) If the woman is jointly responsible for the existence of the fetus, such as when the pregnancy is the result of a voluntary act.

What are the two most frequently raised objections to Thomson's 'A Defense of Abortion' and how does the script address them?

The first objection is that Thomson's analogies are too alien and bizarre to be reliable for moral intuitions or certain transfers to pregnancy. The second objection is that there is a general duty to help that requires preserving another person's life, implying the pregnant woman should continue the pregnancy. The script addresses these by explaining Thomson's intent to highlight weak points in anti-abortion arguments and challenging both extreme positions in the debate.

How does Thomson's theory approach the question of whether abortion should be categorically forbidden?

Thomson's theory does not offer a blanket 'yes' or 'no' to the abortion debate. Instead, it suggests that each case should be considered individually, weighing the rights of the fetus against the rights of the mother, and does not support a categorical ban on abortion.