Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
05:51
A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia
Published on: June 15, 2011
Prenatal diagnosis, personal identity, and disability
Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal
|October 20, 2001
Summary
Prenatal testing and abortion may not convey a disparaging message to people with disabilities. The expressivist argument fails to distinguish abortion from therapy for disabilities.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Disability Studies
- Philosophy of Medicine
Background:
- Prenatal diagnosis of disabling traits raises ethical concerns regarding abortion.
- The "expressivist" argument posits that such abortions send a morally disparaging message to individuals with disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critique and refine the expressivist argument against abortion following prenatal diagnosis.
- To argue that abortions prompted by prenatal testing do not function as meaningful communicative acts.
- To explore the limitations of distinguishing between reasons for abortion and between abortion and therapeutic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical argumentation and conceptual analysis.
- Examination of the semantic and pragmatic aspects of abortion practices.
- Comparative analysis of abortion and therapeutic modalities.
Main Results:
- Abortions following prenatal diagnosis lack the semantic structure to convey a specific "disparaging" message.
- Even if expressive, distinguishing abortion reasons (disability vs. socioeconomic factors) is problematic.
- The expressivist argument struggles to differentiate abortion from therapy in responding to potential disabilities.
Conclusions:
- The expressivist critique of abortion based on prenatal diagnosis is fundamentally flawed.
- The practice of abortion in this context is not a sufficiently "well-behaved" sign to communicate a disparaging message.
- The argument fails to establish a clear distinction between abortion and therapy as responses to disability.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
01:25Formulating and Validating Nursing Diagnosis II
Nursing diagnoses represent a problem validated by major defining characteristics. There are four categories of nursing diagnoses: problem-focused, risk, health promotion or wellness, and syndrome. The anatomy of a nursing diagnosis includes three components: problem statement or diagnostic label, defining characteristics, and related factors.
Risk nursing diagnoses represent clinical judgments of an individual, family, or community more vulnerable to developing the health problem than others...
Risk nursing diagnoses represent clinical judgments of an individual, family, or community more vulnerable to developing the health problem than others...
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
01:30Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...
01:29Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
01:25Personal Identity
Personal identity is the deeply felt sense of self that individuals cultivate over time, intricately woven from intrinsic qualities they consider essential to their existence—qualities such as morality, intelligence, and friendliness. These attributes serve as vital internal benchmarks, guiding individuals in evaluating whether their actions resonate with their true selves.When personal identity takes center stage in one's life, individuals often emphasize their distinctiveness, highlighting...