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Two questions about surrogacy and exploitation.
Philosophy & Public Affairs
|July 1, 1992
Summary
This article explores whether surrogacy is exploitative, arguing that mutually advantageous arrangements may not be harmful. If surrogacy is voluntary and beneficial, contracts should generally be permitted and enforceable.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Social Sciences
- Philosophy of Law
Background:
- Surrogacy involves complex ethical considerations regarding exploitation.
- Existing debates often assume exploitation must be harmful, overlooking mutually beneficial scenarios.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze whether surrogacy constitutes exploitation.
- To determine the moral implications of exploitation in surrogacy.
- To examine the conditions under which surrogacy contracts should be legally recognized.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical argumentation on the definition of exploitation.
- Analysis of potential harms and benefits to surrogates.
- Examination of legal and ethical frameworks for state interference.
Main Results:
- Surrogacy's exploitative nature hinges on defining exploitation as necessarily harmful versus potentially mutually advantageous.
- Lack of empirical evidence on surrogacy's impact complicates definitive conclusions.
- The moral weight of exploitation depends on the chosen definition and views on harm.
Conclusions:
- If surrogacy is viewed as voluntary and mutually advantageous exploitation, a strong presumption favors permitting and enforcing surrogacy contracts.
- This presumption may be rebutted by other ethical or legal considerations.
- Further empirical data and philosophical clarity on 'harm' are needed.