The God Delusion
This is not to deny that a consequentialist might have grounds to oppose abortion. 'Slippery slope' arguments can be framed by consequentialists (though I wouldn't in this case). Maybe embryos don't suffer, but a culture that tolerates the taking of human life risks going too far: where will it all end? In infanticide? The moment of birth provides a natural Rubicon for defining rules, and one could argue that it is hard to find another one earlier in embryonic development. Slippery slope arguments could therefore lead us to give the moment of birth more significance than utilitarianism, narrowly interpreted, would prefer.
The God Delusion
On page 285
Monday, November 5, 2012 @ 1:54pm
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This is not to deny that a consequentialist might have
groundsto grounds to oppose abortion. 'Slippery slope' arguments can be framed
byconsequentialists by consequentialists (though I wouldn't in this case). Maybe
embryosdon't embryos don't suffer, but a culture that tolerates the taking of human
liferisks life risks going too far: where will it all end? In infanticide?
Themoment The moment of birth provides a natural Rubicon for defining rules,
andone and one could argue that it is hard to find another one earlier
inembryonic in embryonic development. Slippery slope arguments could
thereforelead therefore lead us to give the moment of birth more significance
thanutilitarianism, than utilitarianism, narrowly interpreted, would prefer.
- Monday, December 31, 2012 @ 2:54pm
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