36th Annual Student Research Conference
Examining the Moral Permissibility of First Trimester Abortion
Matthew L. McElrath
Dr. Chad Mohler, Faculty Mentor
Using personhood, the qualifications of sentience, consciousness, rationality, moral agency, and self-awareness, it will be determined that a fetus in the first trimester has not yet achieved personhood and has not entered the moral community. It will be concluded that abortion of a first trimester fetus will not result in the termination of a person, allowing it to be morally permissible. Objections from Perry Hendricks regarding how in the event of a fetus not being a person, abortion is still morally impermissible will be addressed to show that abortion is morally permissible. This research will be conducted by using works from famous philosophers such as Peter Singer, Kant, and John Locke. The essay will include an overview of the history of abortion and a description of the prenatal stages to show what is at stake. After describing different qualities of personhood, objections to the argument will be addressed.
Keywords: Abortion, First trimester, personhood, morally permissible
Topic(s):PHRE Senior Seminar
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 205-2
Location: SUB 3201
Time: 10:30