Deck 90: Judith Jarvis Thomson: A Defense of Abortion

Question 1

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-According to Thomson, even if it is permissible for a woman to have an abortion, she does not also have a right to

A) perform the abortion herself.
B) secure the death of the unborn child.
C) defend her life.
D) detach herself from a fetus.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson says that the fetus is a person with whom the woman automatically has a special relationship.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson argues that a woman can defend her life against the threat to it posed by the unborn child, even if doing so involves its death.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson believes that people have a right to do anything whatsoever to save their lives.

Question 5

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson grants that the fetus is a person from the moment of conception.

Question 6

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson argues that even if the unborn is a person from the moment of conception, abortion may still be morally justified.

Question 7

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Some reject Thomson's argument by contending that it holds only if the woman bears no responsibility for her predicament.

Question 8

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson takes an extreme position on abortion.

Question 9

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson believes infanticide is permissible.

Question 10

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson assumes that a fetus does not have a right to life.

Question 11

Beckwith evaluates several arguments for the permissibility of abortion and concludes that they all fail. He finds fault with the argument from a woman's right over her own body, the argument from abortion being safer than childbirth, and Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous "violinist" argument.
-Thomson says it is permissible to kill a fetus at any stage of development.