Continuing conversations about abortion and deprivation.

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Moral Philosophy

Background:

• Don Marquis's argument on abortion posits that it is prima facie wrong due to the deprivation of a future life.
• The Epicurean Challenge questions the nature of harm and deprivation, particularly concerning non-existent entities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To further motivate the Epicurean Challenge against Marquis's argument on abortion.
• To examine Marquis's argument on its own terms and address specific objections.
• To propose an alternative framework for understanding the ethics of killing.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of Marquis's argument.
• Examination of objections concerning the subject of deprivation (whom death deprives).
• Analysis of the focus on the act of killing versus the outcome of death.
• Comparison of pre-existence harms with post-death harms.

Main Results:

• Marquis's argument, when examined closely, is susceptible to the Epicurean Challenge.
• Objections regarding the identity of the deprived, the focus on action vs. result, and the comparison of pre- and post-existence harms highlight weaknesses in Marquis's framework.
• The concept of deprivation as the sole basis for harm in the abortion debate may be insufficient.

Conclusions:

• The Epicurean Challenge remains a significant obstacle for Marquis's argument on abortion.
• Addressing objections reveals the complexities of applying deprivation-based harm to potential persons.
• An alternative account of harm, not reliant on deprivation, may offer a more robust ethical foundation for analyzing the ethics of killing.