This volume addresses the moral question of abortion: is it ever morally right to procure an abortion, to help procure one, or to perform one? Patrick Lee surveys the main philosophical arguments in favour of the moral permissibility of abortion, and refutes them point by point. In a philosophical manner, he presents a strong case for the pro-life position and a serious challenge to all of the main philosophical arguments on behalf of the pro-choice position. Lee's method is strictly philosophical, with special attention given to authors in the broadly analytical school of thought. He contends that what is killed in abortion is indeed an individual human being, that this being is not different from us in any morally significant way, and that, as a result, it can rightly be called a "person". Attempts to argue otherwise are carefully presented and criticised, as are other attempts to morally justify abortion. The book first sets out the prima facie case against abortion: abortion is wrong because it is the intentional killing of human persons. Then, chapter by chapter, he examines and refutes the main challenges to that argument. In chapter one, there is an analysis of the argument that abortion is (sometimes) right because what is conceived does not become a person until after birth. Chapter two examines and criticises the position that some early abortions are morally right because during gestation the embryo or foetus only gradually acquires moral worth. Chapter three focuses on the position that in the early stages of pregnancy the embryo is not a human individual. In chapter four, the book examines and criticises the position of Judith Jarvis Thomson and Francis Kamm - that abortion is not always intentional killing, but is sometimes the case of not providing life support and, therefore, morally justifiable. Chapter five presents a critique of the consequentialist or utilitarian argument for abortion. Lee's dispassionate examination of the issues, his use of neutral language, and his objective presentation of opposing views should appeal to those interested in the philosophical and moral question of abortion. It should be especially useful as a textbook for seminary and graduate courses in medical ethics, and as a supplementary text in undergraduate courses. Patrick Lee is the author of "Faith and Philosophy", "The Thomist", "Theological Studies" and "The Review of Metaphysics".
