Ethics of Abortion: A Christian Perspective

This essay examines the ethical dilemma of abortion from a Christian perspective, analyzing both utilitarian and Kantian viewpoints. It explores the arguments for and against abortion, weighing factors like the potential happiness of all involved and the inherent right to life. The paper ultimately suggests that utilitarianism offers a more nuanced approach to understanding this complex issue within a Christian context.

Running head: ETHICS
Ethics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The purpose of the following essay is to develop an idea about the ethical ideas that are
very important in the modern Christian society. The two of the most important ethical things that
are very important in this context are the Deontological ethics by Immanuel Kant and the
utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill. These two ethical considerations have to be discussed in the
light of the scenario of the fact of choosing to have an abortion though being raised in a catholic
family.
Utilitarianism and Kantianism about abortion
The ethics of utilitarianism is being seen in the philosophical sayings by John Stuart Mill.
Generally, abortion is considered to be n event where pregnancy is terminated at an early stage.
This is done very much willingly (Theofanidis, Fountouki & Pediaditaki, 2013). There are many
controversies that surround this issue and this is why many people have opined have different
views about it. These views have to be kept in mind and the conclusion has to be drawn properly.
Generally there have been two views about the factor of abortion. One is the pro-life and one os
the pro-choice. The first view means that no life can be taken away by any means. However, the
second choice of the pro-life means abortion can be given an option only to the family of the
fetus (Kaczor, 2014).
Immanuel Kant has believed that every man and woman has a right on his or her life. He
or she has the freedom to choose what he or she actually wants to do in his life. This is why the
believers of utilitarianism have believed that the factor of abortion can be justified under some of
the circumstances. They always believe in the factor of happiness in the world. They feel that the
happiness of all the people is very much important in this regard. The most important elements

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for the great amount of happiness is pleasure without the pain, intensity, fruitfulness and
likelihood. The believers of utilitarianism have also viewed if the mother has not the financial aid
to support the baby, a miserable life should be brought upon the baby. This is why the fact of
abortion should be considered properly (Theofanidis, Fountouki & Pediaditaki, 2013) If the main
cause is happiness for all, another thing should also be considered in this context. If the baby is
born with physical or mental disability (unable to be cured by medical process) he or she should
not be given birth at all. This would only add to the misery of the baby. The factor of the
abortion can be The utilitarian view is much more flexible than the other ethical perspectives
(Kaczor, 2014).
The deontological ethics of Kant is of the opinion that all the actions should be based on
the fact that all the moral duties of the human beings are universal and absolute (Cline, 2014).
The other perspective can be seen from the aspect of stoicism (Becker, 2017). This view says
that the way to get the happiness and morality is inside the human minds. They have to decide it
according to their will. As the act of abortion deals with the killing of the human beings, they
have shown their viewpoint that the human beings should not be killed in an unnecessary way.
They consider the fetuses as the people or human beings. These fetuses indeed have some
personhood. They have to show their constraint over this matter only (Cline, 2014)
They think the only alternative is the anti-abortion that is under the stance of pro-life. The
philosophers who follow the deontological views may obviously go for the idea that they should
not interfere in the ideas that are related to the bodies of their own (Hayry, 2013). The pro-
choice view determines the fact that the human beings must have the control over their own
bodies. However, the Catholic Church is against the process of abortion as they are strictly
against the taking away of the human lives (Miller, 2014). However, this view is not supported

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by the utilitarian philosophers. They think that the situation should be given the primary
importance in this context, not the factors of Christian morality or other things (Hayry, 2013).
Conclusion
The paper can be concluded by saying that the problem of abortion is looked at by the
various ethical perspectives. The Kantian and deontological theories are considered to be two of
the most important ethical aspects. The Christian ideologies are also important things as well.
However, the utilitarianism can be taken as the most important viewpoint regarding the abortion
because they think the situation should be considered as important in this regard.

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References
Becker, L. C. (2017). A new stoicism. Princeton University Press.
Cline, A. (2014). Deontology and Ethics: What is Deontology. Deontological Ethics.
Hayry, M. (2013). Liberal utilitarianism and applied ethics. Routledge.
Kaczor, C. (2014). The ethics of abortion: Women’s rights, human life, and the question of
justice. Routledge.
Miller, P. (2014). Good Catholics: The battle over abortion in the Catholic Church. Univ of
California Press.
Theofanidis, D., Fountouki, A., & Pediaditaki, O. (2013). To abort or not? A Greek dilemma—
case study. Nurse education today, 33(6), 644-647.