Ethics – Abortion Controversies in U.S.A.

Abortion Controversies in U.S.A.

Abortion is one of the most hotly debated moral subject in America today.  And people’s emotions understandably get involved.  Please be respectful of each other and practice the value of listening well to each other as we discuss the issues that surround the debate about abortion.

One of the resource videos is Professor Noam Chomsky on conflicting values.  For video, see this:

LINK (Links to an external site.)

“There are conflicting values.  And, taken in isolation, each of the values is quite legitimate.  So the value of preserving life, for that matter the life of any organism, that is a value you should respect.  You shouldn’t just go arbitrarily kill some animal just because it’s fun to kill it.  And that’s a reasonable value.  On the other hand, most people will agree to swat a mosquito.   Okay, well, that shows that the idea that life should be valued has come into conflict with another value.  We know what that one is.  This is commonly the case. The values that we hold are not absolute.  They are always contingent.  They conflict….” (Noam Chomsky, 2016).

[1] OPTION ONE: When it comes to the abortion debate in America today, what do you not like about it and how should we improve it or change it?  Is this whole debate about abortion a case of confusion or conflicting values or both?  What is the confusion or the conflicting values?  If Chomsky is right that there is validity on both sides, what is one of the validities to the pro-life position and to the pro-choice position, as you see them?

[2] OPTION TWO: Find a quote from the movie clip documentary “Lake of Fire” (viewed in the module, but also can be viewed here). Why did you choose the quote you selected and what is your response to the selected quote (positive or negative)?  Is the quote an expression of moral absolutism or moral relativism about abortion?  Explain.