Abortion continues to provide the center of ethical dilemma, standing at the pinnacle of contemporary moral questions, reflecting ethical but also legal and philosophical concerns. But the more complicated part of this conflict is not merely the fact that it comprises opposing views, but it also tackles the age-old dilemmas that face society, such as the sanctity of life, the autonomy of individuals, and the moral responsibilities of the community. Through the rest of this paper, I wish to analyze the hidden ethical dimensions of abortion, paying particular attention to Virtue Ethics. Through the bioethical lens, I shall examine these ethical principles that have been the basis upon which we’ve developed diverse positional views on this scorching issue. In my discussion, I will delve into an in-depth examination of Virtue Ethics’ focus on ethical development, moral virtues, and the acquisition of ethical excellence to show how it contributes to how Virtue Ethicists view abortion and influence our daily moral judgments. Following up on the rugged terrain of the abortion conflict under the Virtue Ethics slag, I would like to help further develop a more multifaceted recognition of this heterogeneous issue today.
Consequently, Virtue Ethics’ approach to abortions is exemplary as there is a comprehensive and convincing system of values within which the decision could be made. Integral to Virtue Ethics is its focus on the notion that the highest good lies not in a set of absolute rules but in the pursuit of the highest Virtue, which includes ethical character traits such as compassion, empathy, and integrity, as well as the inherent value of both the potential human life and the mother’s well-being. Ethics of Virtue, which acts as an ethical mirror, considers the complexities instead of advocating for a specific position. This approach instigates a deeper level of reflection and dialogue that creates understanding among people with conflicting views. What I want to do through the literary analysis is to bring to light the role of Virtue Ethics as a possible way to solve the moral dilemmas that form the basis of the pro-life vs. pro-choice struggle.
For a detailed presentation of Virtue Ethics argumentation, which has morally grounded and holistic ingredients, I will begin by giving an outline of Virtue Ethics and its basic principles. Virtue-based Ethics focuses on the individual’s cultivation of positive traits like compassion, empathy, and integrity. These traits act as advisers, giving people an idea about their moral duties. The main point of Virtue Ethics is to promote the development of moral virtues, instead of, for instance, law-abiding by the rule or taking into account the consequences of the actions, which is a framework of ethical thinking that is holistic and underlines the role of the character and intention. Later, I consider the utilization of Virtue Ethics for doctoring the controversy of the abortion problem, showing practitioners what kind of moral action is needed in this instance and how we ought to come to terms with the moral responsibility involved. We can genuinely deal with the ethics of the abortion phenomenon by determining which of its virtues, e.g. compassion, justice and respect for life, are the most important in this debate. Thus, we can easily decide to take one course of action or another and comply with both their tangible and moral side. Besides, I will touch upon some Vehement objections to Ethical Schools paying consideration to equal Rights and moral status and some counterarguments that demonstrate reasoning, rationality, and reputed philosophy literature. Vigilantly interacting with various moral objections, we can show even contrary evaluations of how rigorous the Virtue Ethics framework is and how it would manage meagre ethical issues adequately and ethically. To finish, I will substantiate the arguments by citing examples and scenarios demonstrating how Virtue’s approach would apply to the abortion question. Equivocal cases of this kind will illustrate that individuals can confidently use the moral theorem to resolve complex moral questions that appeal to wisdom, compassion, and integrity, thus helping to secure the welfare and blossom of all the parties involved. I will do this by illustration, wherein I will show the correctness of Virtue Ethics about the so-called complex ethical problem.
Virtue Ethics is a fundamental system that gives a basic framework for handling the issue of abortion. In contrast with the consequentialist or deontic ethical approach, Virtue Ethics relates to improving virtues such as compassion, empathy, and integrity. From the Christian point of view, Virtue Ethics is the perfect correspondence of the statements made by Jesus Christ, who preached about love, forgiveness, and everyone’s equal worth. In the light of Virtue Ethics, the conclusion is clear: everyone involved, including the unborn child and the mother, should be considered and have their points and needs valued. Virtue Ethics plays a crucial role in inspiring people to work on the development of virtues such as compassion and empathy, which leads us to consider the particular conditions involved. This approach recognizes the basic dignity inherent in both unborn children and their mothers, pursuing the supremacy of their welfare and prosperity. Through its emphasis on the virtues that primarily support kindness and consideration for all humankind, Virtue Ethics adds an overall holistic moral framework towards abortion decision-making that understands and appreciates the complexity of the ethical issue while preserving the sacred life of each existing individual. By developing a morally excellent character, individuals will find it easier to choose the right thing to do even in uneasy circumstances, endowed with wisdom, compassion, and integrity that will not hurt anyone’s life.
Criticisms toward the Virtue Ethics approach to abortion mostly have to do with the question of the legitimacy of the fetus’s rights in the context of the conflicting rights of the mother and inquiries into the moral status of the zygote. Virtue ethics has shown a different thought that responds to the objection against Kantian and utilitarianism but contributes a complex view of the issue. Accordingly, Virtue Ethics is essential for prudence and discernment in moral choices. On top of talking about mother’s rights, this document shows the moral significance of an unborn child’s life. This approach strives to achieve this literacy by directing individuals to virtues such as justice and compassion, which provide them with the required moral compass to resolve simplistic moral issues and those that are complex and worldly. Through emphasizing these values, people can strive to develop choices consistent with the true worth of all parties involved and the sanctity of moral values, without which both the mother and the unborn will have a debased existence. Then secondly, from the point of view of Christianity, the Bible teaches the sacredness of human existence and does not limit the individual to one purpose; all people have to fulfil the divine task assigned to them. Scriptures such as Psalm 139: Verse 13-16 articulate the inherent value of a human being, even those who are still in the womb: “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb”. The meaning of this excerpt is about the power that forms each person in the creation to set the worth and dignity of everyone both in and out of the womb, even from the beginning of life. Now, the fetus is no longer a nonliving tissue but an image of our future self; therefore, the fetus has a moral status above that of an ordinary tissue and must be safeguarded continuously. In brief, Virtue Ethics acts as a trendsetter in the resolution of the moral problems inherent in the abortion debate concerning the conflict of interests and the moral status of the fetus. Through highlighting values like equity and empathy, among other virtues, and appealing to the Christian understanding that human life is sacred according to teachings, Virtue Ethics has an ethical contribution towards coming up with a holistic and caring means of looking into the thorny questions on abortion.
Applying the moral theory of Virtue to the same context where a young woman faces an unplanned pregnancy, the theory would require her to profoundly contemplate the virtues of love, responsibility, and respect for life. In the uncertainty and difficulties that may come with her adventures as a mother, she chooses to find a reason to be a mother. She truly believes that her unborn child is inherently worthy and that there is a potential for personal growth and transformation in her own life in the process of mothering life. Virtue Ethics outlines individuals’ obligations to the communities they are part of. Hence, care, compassion, and other virtues are the driving force of the shepherdess and demonstrate the latter’s commitment to nurturing and protecting the life entrusted to her. Then, on the other hand, here is a case of a woman who has the opposite situation, and she gets an abortion because of her financial difficulties.
On the one hand, Virtue Ethics makes us aware of the complexity of this particular situation. Even though on the other hand, it invites us to admit that there is room to explore new ways of resolving it respectfully for both the mother and her child. Rather than abortion, which is just one option, Virtue Ethics forces us to think about alternative interventions which deal with the natural causes of her social and economic struggles, which might be providing access to resources, support networks and comprehensive healthcare services. By treating every quintessence of the well-being of both the mother and the unborn child, Virtue Ethics leads to the solutions that bolster the sympathy, justice, and growth of all these people.
On the whole, it can be said that, within a Christian context, Virtue Ethics is an attractive and morally grounded approach to the matter in question. Virtue can be nurtured through the life-long practice of cultivating character virtues, such as compassion, empathy, and integrity, which ultimately gives an individual a powerful moral sense necessary to trace a complex ethical dilemma to its roots. Virtue Ethics understands and values that the rights of everyone involved, the mother, the child, and the medical staff are of concern. The result is a holistic approach to the blasphemy of human life that shows the love, justice, and mercy that guide our world. While embarking on the perplexing moral dilemma of the abortion controversy, allowing Virtue Ethics to lead our consciences to a more comprehensive grasping of the moral imprints may be a springboard to shared empathy and our values’ conscious enhancement.
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Ghasem Fardid, Ahmad Akbari, and Mahmoud Ghafoori Nezhad. “The Relationship between Dewey’s Moral Contextualism and Kant’s Deontological Ethics in Abortion.” Ethics and Society 5, no. 1 (May 1, 2023): 20–26. https://doi.org/10.52547/ijethics.5.1.4.
Lugo, Noel Taboada. “Ethical Considerations in Prenatal Diagnosis and Genetic Counseling: Ethical Considerations in Prenatal Diagnosis and Genetic Counseling.” Seminars in Medical Writing and Education 2 (December 23, 2023): 38–38. https://doi.org/10.56294/mw202338.