Summary and Critique of Don Maquis- Anti-Abortion Argument

Summary and Critique of Don Maquis- Anti-Abortion Argument The key element of Don Marquis argument is in the effort to distinguish the difference between abortion and contraception in order to provide a clear argument against abortion, aside from extreme cases. Without conflicting with the interest of the general public by being forced to suggest contraception is ethically wrong as well. When he compiles his argument he begins by providing the argument for a ‘pro-choice’ approach which makes the assumption that a fetus is a being but one whos life is not ethically applicable and can be ended without moral consequence. This gives us an insight into the apparent symmetry between this set of ideals in contrast with the beliefs of the†¦show more content†¦Summarily he excludes an argument that involves the wrongness of the ‘discontinuation’ of a life. He rationalises this by giving the understanding that a fetus cannot be taken under this argument as it is required for a being to have a past and experiences to be discontinued. A fetus on the other hand is not even self aware and has had no previous ‘experience’ as such to speak of, hereby the argument dose not apply in the case of abortion. Marquis then goes on to disassociate the ‘desire account’ as an influential element of his debate. It is pro-choice belief that takes into account it is someone’s desire to keep living that makes it wrong to kill a person as it interferes with their direct wishes. Once again when relating this view to abortion there is an obvious logical flaw. A fetus does not have the capability to be self aware let alone able to express a desire for the continuation of its life. Dose this make the action morally permissible? If so then Marquis elaborates this idea relating it individuals in circumstances where they either do not desire the continuation of their life or they are unable to express such a desire for instance in a coma. He concedes that it is still deemed wrong to kill them even though there would be no expressed desire for life at the time of the killing. Because the argument is broad it cannot be practically applied in the case of abortion. His belief is largely pivoted on â€Å"the effect of the loss of a biological life, is the loss to