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The values of life.

Govert Den Hartogh

    Bioethics
    |January 1, 1997
    PubMed
    Summary

    This study critiques Ronald Dworkin's arguments on abortion and euthanasia, proposing that the value of human life, not just the right to life, is central. It distinguishes types of personal and intrinsic value to reframe the debate on fetal value.

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    Area of Science:

    • Bioethics
    • Moral Philosophy
    • Legal Philosophy

    Background:

    • Ronald Dworkin's work, "Life's Dominion," attempts to resolve abortion and euthanasia controversies by shifting focus from the right to life to its value.
    • Dworkin proposes that liberals acknowledge intrinsic value of human life and conservatives accept toleration regarding personal values.
    • The existing debate often conflates different types of value, hindering resolution.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To critically analyze Dworkin's framework for understanding the value of human life in ethical debates.
    • To differentiate between personal and intrinsic values, and their subcategories, as applied to the fetus.
    • To propose a revised understanding of fetal value that can inform the abortion debate.

    Main Methods:

    • Conceptual analysis of Dworkin's arguments regarding personal and intrinsic value.
    • Distinguishing between value to a person (desire-based) and objective well-being.
    • Differentiating between ultimate personal intrinsic value and impersonal value.

    Main Results:

    • Dworkin's distinctions between types of value are insufficient, particularly concerning the fetus.
    • The fetus's value is not personal (desire-based or well-being) nor impersonal in Dworkin's sense.
    • Fetal value is not an intrinsic value of kind (4) (impersonal good), which would prevent refutation of conservatives via toleration.

    Conclusions:

    • The value of a fetus's life is not personal (kind 1 or 2) or impersonal (kind 4).
    • A liberal approach should recognize fetal value as relational, developing significantly post-conception.
    • This reframing of fetal value offers a new perspective for resolving ethical disputes surrounding abortion.
    Keywords:
    Analytical ApproachGenetics and ReproductionLife's Dominion: An Argument About Abortion, Euthanasia, and Individual Freedom (Dworkin, R.D.)

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