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A reply to Gillham on the impairment principle
1Department of Philosophy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. bblackshaw@gmail.com.
Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy
|October 30, 2023
Summary
The impairment argument against abortion requires a clear definition of "greater impairment." While a narrow definition is sufficient, broadening it risks weakening the argument
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Moral Philosophy
- Fetal Rights
Background:
- The impairment argument posits abortion is immoral due to greater harm to a fetus compared to other immoral acts.
- This argument faces challenges regarding the precise definition of "greater impairment."
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the definition of "greater impairment" within the context of the abortion debate.
- To evaluate the sufficiency of existing definitions and propose a framework for their application.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of the impairment argument and its underlying principles.
- Critique of proposed definitions of "greater impairment" by Alex Gillham.
- Defense of a narrow, yet sufficient, scope for the impairment argument's definition.
Main Results:
- Existing definitions of "greater impairment" present significant difficulties.
- A narrow definition of "greater impairment" is sufficient for the impairment argument's purpose.
- Expanding the scope to broader comparisons may undermine the argument's intuitive foundation.
Conclusions:
- The impairment argument's effectiveness relies on a focused definition of "greater impairment."
- Broadening the scope of impairment comparisons can weaken the ethical basis of the argument.
- Maintaining a narrow scope preserves the intuitive appeal of the impairment principle in bioethical discussions.
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