Abortion and the Epicurean challenge.

Abstract:

:In a recent article in this journal, Anna Christensen raises an 'Epicurean challenge' to Don Marquis' much-discussed argument for the immorality of abortion. According to Marquis' argument, abortion is pro tanto morally wrong because it deprives the fetus of 'a future like ours'. Drawing on the Epicurean idea that death cannot harm its victim because there is no subject to be harmed, Christensen argues that neither fetuses nor anyone else can be deprived of a future like ours by dying. Thus, Christensen suggests, the moral wrongness of abortion (and other killings) cannot be grounded in the relevant individual's being deprived of a future like ours. In this reply, I argue that on no interpretation of Christensen's Epicurean challenge does it succeed.

journal_name

J Med Ethics

authors

Ekendahl K

doi

10.1136/medethics-2019-105771

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2020-04-01 00:00:00

pages

273-274

issue

4

eissn

0306-6800

issn

1473-4257

pii

medethics-2019-105771

journal_volume

46

pub_type

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