Read: Judith Thomson, "A Defense of Abortion"

Read: Patrick Lee and Robert George, "The Wrong of Abortion"

Study Questions on Thomson

Judith Thomson begins with a brief discussion of whether the embryo or fetus is a person. What does she believe about this?
Does Thomson assume the embryo or fetus is a person in the rest of her paper?
What is the point of the example about the famous violinist?
What is the “extreme view” Thomson discusses?
Thomson uses an outlandish example about a small house and a growing child to argue that the extreme view is false. Exactly how is this story supposed to show that the extreme view is false?
How does Thomson understand what it means to have a right to life?
Does Thomson think that abortion can be justified when a woman becomes pregnant due to contraceptive failure? Explain your answer.
Does Thomson believe a right to abortion entitles a woman to "secure the death of the unborn child?" Why or why not?

Study Questions on Lee and George

According to Lee and George, when does the embryo or fetus acquire moral status?
According to Lee and George, why do human beings have moral value?
Lee and George distinguish between two sorts of potentiality or capacities. What is the significance of this distinction?
Why do Lee and George reject the bodily rights argument in support of abortion?
According to Lee and George, a mother and father have responsibilities to their child. What responsibilities do they have? Why do these responsibilities affect the morality of abortion?