PHIL 4 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Childbirth, Abortion-Rights Movements, Connotation
11/1/17
● The connotation of a term consists of its emotional or cultural association or suggestion,
beyond the terms literal meaning (its denotation)
● Connotation can be useful for a number of reasons
● But in ethical debates, it can be misleading and obviate rational dialogue
● The term pro-life suggests that the opposition is not in favor of life. However this is vague
○ Many abortion advocates want to have supportive social mechanisms to help
children that were unexpected but still born to have fuller, richer more stable lives
● The term pro choice suggests somehow that anti abortion advocates want to restrict
people's freedom
○ But if anty advocates believe that abortion is in fact murder then obviously they
don't like the idea of choice about murder
● These terms would be better avoided in a discussion that intended to deal
Argument for a woman's right over her body
○ You have a right to control your own body, so you have the right to undergo
abortion for any reason
■ Set aside this objection
● It's not clear you have such a strong personal autonomy, laws
against suicide, prostitution
○ Objection 1
○ Objection 2
■ The right to one's body presupposed a person who has such a right. This
right also presupposes that this right does not interfere with other people’s
rights. If the right to your body somehow interferes with another's right,
than there is a conflict of rights
● So it does not automatically follow that the woman has the right to
kill the unborn entity.
○ Caveat
■ If the unborn entity is not a person than the
objection has force. But it must be shown that the
unborn entity is not a person
Argument for abortion being safer than childbirth
● Among moral acts one is not morally obligated to perform are those which can endanger
one's life
● Childbirth is more life-threatening than having an abortion
● Therefore, childbirth is an act one is not morally obligated to perform
● So abortion is justified
○ 1 and 2 don't lead to 3 because it isn't clear that just because something is
statistically more life threatening than something else, it is life threatening
● Objection 1
○ Hugely contentious premise. Danger is a subjective term
○ Even if childbirth is more dangerous, it is still very safe
Document Summary
The connotation of a term consists of its emotional or cultural association or suggestion, beyond the terms literal meaning (its denotation) Connotation can be useful for a number of reasons. But in ethical debates, it can be misleading and obviate rational dialogue. The term pro-life suggests that the opposition is not in favor of life. Many abortion advocates want to have supportive social mechanisms to help children that were unexpected but still born to have fuller, richer more stable lives. The term pro choice suggests somehow that anti abortion advocates want to restrict people"s freedom. But if anty advocates believe that abortion is in fact murder then obviously they don"t like the idea of choice about murder. These terms would be better avoided in a discussion that intended to deal. Argument for a woman"s right over her body. You have a right to control your own body, so you have the right to undergo abortion for any reason.
