Problem: Abortion is one of the most difficult and controversial moral issues we will consider. Listen to both sides, even if it is difficult to do. Both sides have important moral insights, even if ultimately these insights are outweighed by the insights of the other side. The goal of this discussion is not to convince you to accept one position over the other, but to help you to understand both sides. As you consider this difficult issue, it is important to distinguish two questions:
- Is abortion morally wrong?
- Should abortion be illegal Federally? Recall the Dobbs decision that undermined the legality of Roe v. Wade.
- Apply Social Contract theory as an ethical lens for this topic. Do we have the obligation as a country to support laws that contradicts our own personal religious views? Meaning if you think life begins at conception, should that be applied to whether or not everyone has access to an abortion?
Choose one of the questions above and argue both sides with supporting evidence.