Examining Hursthouse's Liberal View on Abortion and Ethics

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of Rosalind Hursthouse's liberal perspective on abortion. It explores her arguments, rooted in virtue ethics, which emphasize a woman's autonomy over her body and the ethical considerations surrounding the moral status of a fetus. The essay contrasts Hursthouse's views with religious and feminist viewpoints, highlighting her stance on women's rights and the circumstances under which abortion decisions are made. It discusses her comparison of a fetus to a part of a woman's body, like a kidney, and her critique of women who have abortions for trivial reasons. Furthermore, the essay examines the potential for a doctor's involvement in the abortion process and the moral implications of such actions. The author agrees with Hursthouse's arguments, emphasizing that her work is a valuable contribution to the abortion debate and questions the traditional notions regarding the formation of a fetus and a woman's body. The essay also acknowledges the limitations of her arguments regarding women's rights and the need for further elaboration on the socio-economic conditions that influence abortion decisions.

Ethics and Reasoning
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2. Hursthouse’s Liberal View
Hursthouse’s arguments are a reflection on the morality of abortion which has been a
topic of discussion in the religious, ethical and medical realms. From the perspective of
religion, abortions have been strictly condemned as fetus is given the position of a human
being from the very first time of its conception and therefore abortion equals to the concept of
homicide only except in crucial medical cases. The church’s take on the argument of abortion
has been, however, challenged by a number of feminists and critics, where an overwhelming
majority of people are of the opinion that abortion is the sole choice of a woman (Gilbert &
Sewpaul, 2015). Over the recent times, the discussion of the right to abortion has also been
linked with the concept of a democratic state where people expect a minimum liberalism and
abolition of circumstances where doctor reject abortions strictly based on their conscience.
However, Rosalind Hursthouse, a virtue ethicist who regards abortion as a matter of crucial
importance since it revolves around the termination of a life form growing within a human
being (Oakley, 2015). Her arguments are that the status of a fetus growing inside a woman
body equals to another part of her body and therefore she has the right to have a say about its
fate and has the complete autonomy over it.
Hursthouse’s arguments concerning the liberal view of abortion is compatible with
McDonagh’s argument where it clearly stated that the choice to abortion is not restricted or
dependent upon the “nonpersonhood” of the foetus. According to this view the choice of
abortion is dependent upon none but on the woman and it is the fundamental responsibility of
the state to ensure that the women. It is therefore clear that a woman is not supposed to
undergo through the period of pregnancy irrespective of her refusals. Her argument blurs the
line between an underdeveloped foetus and its status of that of a part of woman’s boy and a
fully developed eight month-old foetus and its status as a human being. It is not feasible to
make a distinction to mark the development. Her opinions border around the dilemma

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regarding abortion. Her main focus is on the virtuosity and ethical concerns of the act more
than its legal aspects. Hursthouse claims for the freedom of every woman over the right to her
own body and it is only humane to give consent to her decisions and choices. She questions
the extreme moral status that the liberals impose upon foetus since it has the potential to grow
and develop itself as a fully conscious human being. Hursthouse also refutes the absurd claim
that both the ovum and sperm have the potentiality to evolve as a human being but only
foetus can completely become one. Hurtshouse like other feminists are of the opinion that a
foetus is destined to be linked with its bearer’s body. She nevertheless criticizes women who
executed abortion for unsubstantial reasons and therefore proving themselves as
fundamentally casual and trivial-minded.
Moreover, I strongly agree with her arguments and comparison of foetus with that of
a kidney and the unquestionable authority of the woman over her kidney (Jacobs, 2016). This
can be paralleled to her right to foetus and decision regarding the complete development of
foetus into a human being. However, at this crucial juncture of argument Hursthouse brings
forth the problematic scenario whether the woman at all has the right permit another human
being to make changes in her body that might equal to causing potential damages (Hoyle et
al., 2016). This denotes to the moral ground of such an action and how far it can be morally
permissible for a doctor to perform the act of abortion on her body knowing that the action
can paramount to harm. A tint of vagueness is introduced with such a statement but still her
arguments form a major portion of contribution to the debate of abortion and have introduced
me an entirely new discussion more importantly because of the vast amount of importance it
attaches with the concept of abortion and importance of women in the entire process of
performing an abortion. Her view on the decision to abort a foetus is fundamental since it
questions the basic and traditional notions that some people have regarding the formation of
foetus and woman’s body (Schouten, 2017). Her arguments come as a major breakthrough

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amidst condescending and regressive religious views which states that the mere act of
performing an abortion is an act of evil without considering any other aspects. However, from
my personal perspectives I have found her arguments quite lacking on the areas of women’s
rights. I think she could have elaborated more on women’s circumstances under which they
have to take the decision of abortion so that it might help to eradicate some of the
presupposed views of abortion that a majority of population have. From her arguments, one
can gain a socio-economic picture in the light of a woman’s position in the society and the
roles that she is expected to play. She is in support of the fact that a woman may exercise her
right to abortion amidst the life experiences that she has to go through, for instance the
burden of having a job (Hoyle et al., 2016). The arguments and reading on her views on the
extreme liberal views free abortion from its vices and evil angles.
In conclusion what I like about the argument presented by Hursthouse is the
kaleidoscopic view of abortion that she has taken into consideration that she has presented
into her analysis. Her works will be of immense significance for those people who are
reclined to consider about abortion under any circumstance and comply within the norms of
patriarchy. According to me, in a nutshell her arguments state that although the incident of
snapping off a human life is deeply unfortunate nevertheless under certain circumstances it is
viable and admissible. I appreciate the structure of her arguments which deviate more from
the moral status of the foetus by concentrating more on women’s rights and circumstances
under which they undergo abortion.

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Schouten, G. (2017). Fetuses, Orphans, and a Famous Violinist: On the Ethics and Politics of
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