This essay explicates and evaluates the roles that fetal metaphysics and moral status play in rosalind hursthouse s abortion ethics. Rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion march 1, 2015 august 30, 2015 posted in aristotle, hursthouse these are my notes from the reading, rather than a summary. Hursthouse herself wrote on abortion see virtue theory and abortion 1991, and though she may be against talking about the more general cases i so think its important to consider particular cases. Rosalind hursthouses justly famous virtue theory and abortion is a touchstone in this field, to which along with her book beginning lives we will need to return at some length in what follows. An acon is right iff it is what a virtuous agent would do in the circumstances 225. Rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion the sort of ethical theory derived from aristotle, variously described as virtue ethics, virtuebased ethics, or neoaristotelianism, is becoming better known, and is now quite widely recognized as at least a possible rival to deontological and utilitarian theories. Abortion and virtue ethics ust research online university of st. So the primary question for her in any issue is to quote from her book virtue theory and abortion. Rosalind hursthouse general defense of virtue theory ethics application of virtue to the issue of abortion slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Hursthouse s virtue ethics takes as central the conception of a human being who possesses all ethical virtues of character and no vices or defects of characterhumanbeingratherthanpersonbecausetherelevantcharactertraitsarenaturaltothespecies. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.
Abortion the discourse on abortion generally is focused on two considerations. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. As such, my references are to the ordinal page number of the typeset electronic pdf file. On the moral and legal status of abortion, mary anne warren.
She, with the use of virtue theory, simply says that an action is right only if a virtuous agent would do it. Start studying rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion. Hursthouses virtue ethics takes as central the conception of a human be ing who possesses all ethical virtues of character and no vices or defects of characterhumanbeingratherthanpersonbecausetherelevantchar. How does hursthouse defend virtue ethics from this criticism. Hursthouse s most hursthouze contribution to modern virtue ethics is her book on virtue ethicswhich explores its structure as a distinctive actionguiding theory, the relationship between virtue, the emotions and moral motivation, and the place of the virtues within an overall account of human flourishing. Virtue theory and abortion, in which hursthouse outlined the structure of a new version of aristotelian virtue ethics, defended it. In the article, virtue theory and abortion, by rosalind hursthouse, she explains her view on abortion without trying to solve the issue of if it is right or wrong. Hursthouse thinks that this framing of the issues can be limited and myopic. For kantian ethics deontological theory, there is a link between right action and moral rules, and then between moral rules and rationality. Drawing on hursthouses essay, virtue theory and abortion, i will attempt to offer a. Abortion ethics without metaphysics it is motivated. However, let us begin with judith jarvis thomsons seminal paper. Singer suggests that the argument of abortion has missed the point.
Applying virtue ethics to our treatment of the other animals. Virtue theory and abortion rosalind hursthouse explained a wide range of subjects ranging from science to politics and is widely recognized as one of the greatest philosophers of all time. This chapter will expound and critique rosalind hursthouse s famous article abortion and virtue theory. Pdf on jul 27, 2012, tom tomlinson and others published virtue. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Foot sometimes calls this virtue benevolence, while at other time she refers to it as charity. Rosalind hursthouse applying virtue ethics to our treatment of the other animals applying virtue ethics to moral issues should be straightforward.
Virtue theory and abortion what is virtue theory, and how does it differ from consequentialist and deontological approaches to ethics. Does moral virtue constitute a benefit to the agent. Hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion 1991 ubc blogs. Arational actions in the journal of philosophy, vol.
I feel if we could have a discussion of abortion on a mainstream scale it would improve things. She argues only familiar biological facts matter have sex, pregnant for 9 months, birth, abortion cuts off a liketobe getting an abortion because youre not ready for just like where you are now may be in. In i i will describe how hursthouse sets out what she calls virtue theory vt and her response to some objections made against it. She wants to explore how virtue ethics might direct one to think about abortion in. Oxford university press usa publishes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, childrens books, business books, dictionaries, reference books, journals, text books and more. Rosalinda hursthouse virtue theory and abortion critical. Assessment in the excerpt virtue theory and abortion, rosalind hursthouse presents the following argument for the moral acceptance of abortion. Nov 18, 2014 hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion, part 1 christina hendricks. Mar 01, 2015 rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion march 1, 2015 august 30, 2015 posted in aristotle, hursthouse these are my notes from the reading, rather than a summary. Virtue theory and abortion by rosalind hursthouse bartleby. Virtue ethics and professional roles 16 see philippa foot, euthanasia, p. Rosalind hursthouse general defense of virtue theoryethics application of virtue to the issue of abortion slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising.
Hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion part 2 youtube. Hursthouse virtue theory and abortion pdf cognitive enhancement, virtue ethics and the good froding hursthouse s virtue ethics and abortion. Besides that, intellectual and philosophical sophistication is not a necessary condition of moral wisdom, and a person can act virtuosly without possessing this knowledge. I then consider what some important virtue ethicists have said about abortion, especially the work of rosalind hursthouse. A fertilized egg is a zygote, then an embryo up to 8 weeks, then a fetus. Some critical reflections on abortion and virtue theory springerlink. Top pdf online only the top pdf files uploaded to this. In having an abortion in these circumstances, would the agent acting virtuously or viciously or neither. I should point out that, like hursthouse, i am not trying to solve the problem of abortion. Apr, 2009 rosalind hursthouse is a proponent of virtue ethics. Rosalind hursthouse, gavin lawrence, warren quinn, oup, 1995. Virtue theory says there is no answer to abortion rather there is a variety of popular answers main focuses debated on abortion.
Opinion i agree with hursthouse that since pregnancy is unlike any other condition, that viewing it in callous terms is not the way to go about discussing abortion. As promised, i now turn to an illustration of such discussion, applying virtue theory to abortion. From rosalind hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion, philosophy and public adairs 20 1990. Critical assessment in the excerpt virtue theory and abortion, rosalind hursthouse presents the following argument for the moral acceptance of abortion. It was mentioned earlier that the theory of utilitarianism considers an action to be right if the chosen action can provide a person the best consequences that can make the person happy hursthouse. Hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion, part 1 youtube. The introduction to the theory involves an explanation of and then contrast with deontological and utilitarian theories.
Rosalind hursthouse virtue and abortion philosophical. What is the major criticism of virtue ethics that hursthouse identifies. Hursthouses aim in this essay is to defend virtue ethics against the following objection phrased as an argument. Hursthouse s view, however, is the most fully developed account of this kind. Jason berke the morality of abortion through the lens of kantian ethics and utilitarianism duration. Hursthouse virtue theory and abortion virtue theory and. Virtue theory and abortion rosalind hursthouse free essays. The prochoice arguments of when personhood begins are vague and, therefore, cannot provide a concrete moment of when personhood starts. Virtue theory and abortion essay medicine and health.
Some critical reflections on abortion and virtue theory. Jul 20, 2019 hursthouses virtue ethics and abortion. Hursthouse s most hursthouze contribution to modern virtue ethics is her book on virtue ethicswhich explores its structure as a distinctive actionguiding theory, the relationship between virtue, the emotions and moral motivation, and the place of the virtues within an. I begin by outlining virtue ethics in comparison to the two other dominant approaches in normative ethics. Nov 18, 2014 a screencast for phil 230 at the university of british columbia. Virtue theory and abortion essay example topics and well. Rosalind hursthouse, in her essay virtue theory and abortion, puts forth her theory of virtue by first introducing the mechanics of the theory and then applying it to the particular moral controversy of abortion. Rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion flashcards. Rosalind hursthouse s justly famous virtue theory and abortion is a touchstone in this field, to which along with her book beginning lives we will need to return at some length in what follows.
What features do you think an adequate normative theory should have. He asserts that the debate should focus on if it is wrong to kill an innocent human being instead of arguing whether a fetus is or is not an innocent human being. This chapter will expound and critique rosalind hursthouses famous article abortion and virtue theory. The sort of ethical theory derived from aristotle, variously described as virtue ethics, virtuebased ethics. Then i want to briefly outline the theory of one very prominent contemporary virtue ethicist. Hursthouses most substantial contribution to modern virtue ethics is her book on virtue ethics, which explores its structure as a distinctive actionguiding theory, the relationship between virtue, the emotions and moral motivation, and the place of the virtues within an overall account of human flourishing. One of his most important contributions to the study of humanities is his exploration and definition of moral virtue. Rosalind hursthouses virtue theory and abortion notes. Virtue theory and applied ethics article pdf available in south african journal of philosophy 212 december 2005 with 8,557 reads how we measure reads. Despite being widely anthologized, virtue theory and abortion has received little scrutiny in print. After all, it basically just amounts to thinking about what to do using the virtue and vice terms.
Applying virtue ethics in virtues and reasons, festschrift for philippa foot, eds. An ethical theory should be able to guide action, to tell us what we ought to do given our particular circumstances. Mary rosalind hursthouse born 10 november 1943 is a britishborn new zealand moral. Rosalinda hursthouse virtue theory and abortion critical assessment. Hursthouse believes the status of the fetus is irrelevant to virtue theory as it is a very difficult thing to answer. Hursthouse, rosalind 1991 the sort of ethical theory derived from aristotle, variously described as virtue ethics, virtue based ethics, or neoaristotelianism, is becoming better known, and is now quite widely recognized as at least a possible rival. After recognizing the many contributions her analysis offers, i. The sort of ethical theory derived from aristotle, variously described as.
My goal here is to consider what contemporary virtue ethics can say about the problem of abortion. For utilitarianism, there is a link between right action and consequences, and then between. Virtue theory and abortion in philosophy and public affairs, vol. Hursthouse, rosalind 1991, virtue theory and abortion. Virtue theory and abortionin which hursthouse outlined the structure of a new version of aristotelian virtue ethicsdefended it against possible objections, and applied it to the issue of abortion. I am illustrating how virtue theory directs one to think about it. Virtue theory and abortion medicine and health articles. Hursthouses virtue theory might well be defensible. Virtue ethics in action introduction my plan is to begin by explaining virtue ethics in rather general terms, showing how its different from the two other main traditions in ethics. Virtue ethics does not tell us what we should do from 1.
It is motivated by hursthouse s puzzling claim in her widely anthologized paper virtue ethics and abortion that fetal moral status and by implication its underlying metaphysics are in a way, fundamentally irrelevant to her position. Hursthouse herself wrote on abortion see virtue theory and abortion 1991, and though she may be against talking about the more general cases i. Abortion abortion is the intentional termination of a pregnancy. After establishing some of the key concepts in contemporary virtue ethics and. It is motivated by hursthouses puzzling claim in her. Hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion part 2 christina hendricks. Moral dilemmas in contemporary virtue ethics lsu digital commons. Rosalind hursthouses justly famous virtue theory and abortion is a. Rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion dead. Download file to see previous pages i strongly support the idea that abortion is the best option for rebecca. In on virtue ethics, rosalind hursthouse outlines an account of virtue ethics and human. This essay explicates and evaluates the roles that fetal metaphysics and moral status play in rosalind hursthouses abortion ethics. It is motivated by hursthouses puzzling claim in her widely anthologized paper virtue ethics and abortion that fetal moral status and by implication its underlying metaphysics are in a way, fundamentally irrelevant to her position.
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