Question 1

Noonan argues that fetuses acquire the right to life when they are

Accepted Answer

Noonan argues that fetuses acquire the right to life at the moment of conception, emphasizing the biological and moral significance of this starting point of human life.

Question 2

Which of the following is not one of the distinctions about the humanity of fetuses discussed by Noonan?

Accepted Answer

Noonan does not discuss "Interests" as a distinction about the humanity of fetuses. The other options are distinctions he considers.

Question 3

According to Noonan, anyone _______ is human.

Accepted Answer

Noonan's position is that human life begins at conception, so anyone conceived by human parents would be considered human according to his view.

Question 4

Noonan argues that conception is the point when a fetus acquires the right to life because fetuses

Accepted Answer

Noonan argues that fetuses are human from conception because they possess the genetic code that determines their unique physical characteristics and traits. Therefore, the acquisition of genetic code at conception and the belief that the fetus is a human entity from that point forth are the reasons why Noonan believes that conception is the point when a fetus acquires the right to life.

Question 5

Noonan believes that abortion is permissible when the fetus is

Accepted Answer

Noonan argues from the perspective that the fetus is human from the moment of conception, and thus, he does not consider abortion permissible based on viability, consciousness, or perception as human.

Question 6

According to Noonan, arguments for the permissibility of abortion

Accepted Answer

Noonan argues that arguments for the permissibility of abortion are unsuccessful in establishing that abortion is permissible because they rely on distinctions that lack moral significance. Therefore, the correct choice is D, as it includes both the failures of such arguments and the reasoning behind their inadequacy.

Question 7

Noonan argues that the appeal to probabilities shows

Accepted Answer

Noonan uses the appeal to probabilities to argue for the plausibility of thinking embryos are human, based on the fact that embryos possess human DNA and have the potential to develop into a human being.

Question 8

Noonan draws an analogy between the probability that one will hit someone when shooting a gun into the bushes and the probability that a fetus will

Accepted Answer

Noonan uses the analogy to illustrate the high probability that a fetus will fully develop, similar to the high probability of hitting someone when shooting into bushes.

Question 9

According to Noonan, abortion is morally wrong except when the fetus

Accepted Answer

Noonan argues that abortion is morally wrong except in cases where the pregnancy endangers the mother's life, emphasizing the value and rights of the fetus while recognizing a critical exception for the mother's well-being.

Question 10

When does Noonan think the fetus acquires the right to life, and why? What implications does this have for the moral status of abortion? Do you agree with Noonan? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When does Noonan think the fetus acquires...

Question 11

Noonan discusses and rejects a variety of distinctions that might be used to defend the moral permissibility of abortion. Do you think Noonan is right to reject these distinctions? If not, which distinction do you think is correct? Defend your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Noonan discusses and rejects a variety of...

Question 12

According to Noonan, what does it take to be human? To what purpose does Noonan put this definition of humanity? Do you think this definition is plausible for this purpose? Defend your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Noonan, what does it take...

Question 13

Many people claim that a fetus is a person from the moment of conception. In her paper, Thomson

Accepted Answer

Thomson disagrees with the claim that a fetus is a person from the moment of conception, but she grants it for the sake of argument.

Question 14

In the case of the violinist, Thomson thinks

Accepted Answer

Thomson argues that we have a right to our own bodily autonomy, even if it means refusing to save another person's life. She believes that while it would be charitable to remain attached to the violinist, there is no obligation to do so. Therefore, the best choice is C - it would be nice to remain attached, but not mandatory.

Question 15

According to Thomson, the right to life is a right to

Accepted Answer

Thomson argues that the right to life is the right to not be killed unjustly, meaning that a person can justly be killed in certain circumstances such as in self-defense or in a just war. She rejects the idea that the right to life is an unconditional right to be kept alive at any cost, as this could lead to an obligation to donate organs or to stay hooked up to life-support indefinitely. Overall, Thomson emphasizes that the right to life must be balanced against other rights and considerations, and that there is no absolute right to life.

Question 16

Thomson claims that no one has the right to the use of your body unless

Accepted Answer

Thomson argues that the right to use one's body is contingent upon consent, meaning that one must grant someone the right to use their body.

Question 17

Thomson claims that a woman grants a fetus a right to the use of her body whenever she has

Accepted Answer

Thomson argues that even if a woman voluntarily engages in intercourse and becomes pregnant, it does not automatically grant the fetus a right to use her body. Her argument is centered on bodily autonomy and the distinction between the morality of abortion and the rights involved.

Question 18

The case of the violinist is supposed to show that

Accepted Answer

The case of the violinist is meant to challenge the view that the right to life is always more morally important than the right to decide what happens to one's body. It argues that even if we assume that the fetus has a right to life, that right does not necessarily outweigh a woman's right to decide what happens to her own body. Therefore, the argument supports choice C - the right to life is not always more morally important than the right to decide what happens to one's body.

Question 19

Which of the following claims does Thomson think is true?

Accepted Answer

Thomson argues that while a fetus might have a right to life, this right does not always trump a woman's right to bodily autonomy. Therefore, abortion can be morally permissible in certain circumstances, such as cases of rape or danger to the mother's life. So, option B is correct as it suggests that abortion is sometimes morally impermissible. Thomson does not make any claim about option A or option C. While option D is a point Thomson uses to support her argument, it is not the main claim she is making.

Question 20

What claim does Thomson assume for the sake of argument?

Accepted Answer

Thomson assumes for the sake of argument that a fetus is a person from the moment of conception to explore the moral implications of abortion without conceding that abortion is necessarily murder.

Quiz 12: Abortion