Moral Question of Abortion

By Stephen D. Schwarz

Book Overview

Moral Question of Abortion [Apr 01, 1990] Schwarz, Stephen D. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0829406239
• ISBN13: 9780829406238
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Loyola Pr
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Tremendous! Schwarz dismantles the pro-death arguments!

I strongly disagree with the poster below who found it necessary to post the same review twice, as if repetition adds credence to allegations of circular reasoning. As a student of philosophy, I find no faulty logic here. I have read this book and effectively used its arguments in real life encounters. I have yet to hear a pro-choice supporter even attempt to engage the arguments Schwarz presents here. The usual responses are like the review below, full of name calling and accusations of "faulty logic" without any substance to back up the claim. I recommend both this book and Francis Beckwiths "Politically Correct Death". This book is top-notch.

The Moral Question, Wonderfully Addressed

Dr. Schwarz masterfully takes the reader through a logical approach to understanding the moral question of abortion. He presents his case utilizing the S-L-E-D (Size, Level of development, Environment, and Degree of dependancy) theory of personhood, and strongly argues in favor of recognizing unborn children as "persons" worthy of legal protection. His book addresses many aspects of the abortion issue from philosophy, biology, to social policy. I highly recommend this thoughfully written and important book.

A strong but flawed statement of the pro-life position

Schwarz's _The Moral Question of Abortion_ is probably the closest anyone has come to producing a reason-responsive defence of the pro-life position. As such -- and though its arguments are deeply flawed -- I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in the abortion debate.Of particular interest are Schwarz's attempted refutations of present-day philosophers such as Mary Ann Warren, Michael Tooley, and Judith Jarvis Thomson. As one would expect, his critique is often controversial. For example, his first "refutation" of Thomson relies on a very strong and very implausible account of positive duties. Can we really take seriously (as Schwarz does) the view that if you see someone in need of help, then you _must_ help them unless doing so would cause you severe hardship? Few people would share Schwarz's intuitions on this point.Schwarz's second "refutation" of Thomson postulates that a woman has a special duty to care for her child _purely as a result of_ the biological link between the two. Thomson argues against this view in the very paper Schwarz is critiquing; and yet, Schwarz fails to confront (or even even to mention) Thomson's argument on this point. To me that is both dishonest and at odds with the proper mode of philosophical exchange: if you're going to claim to have refuted somebody, you must first ensure that you have come to terms with their arguments!Schwarz criticises the "functioning person" theory of personhood by pointing out that there is no agreement on the part of Tooley, Warren, Fletcher, et al., on the question of which features are (and how much of each feature is) necessary and sufficient for personhood. Schwarz is correct to say that there is no agreement, but apparently fails to realise that his own position is open to precisely the same criticism. He believes that a "basic inherent capacity" for functioning as a person is sufficient for personhood; but equally, there is no agreement among pro-li! fers regarding _which_ personal functions one must have a "basic inherent capacity" for in order to be a person. In this way, the argument is entirely self-defeating.There are further flaws to Schwarz's argument that space does not permit me to examine here. The upshot, in my view, is that Schwarz cannot seriously claim to have refuted the pro-choice position. Far from it, in fact. All the same, he does give it a strong challenge, and as such I would recommend his book even to pro-choicers -- for (unlike the case of Schwarz against Thomson) one should always come to terms with the arguments of one's opponents.

Most Rational Approach to the Issue that I've Ever Seen

Dr. Schwarz has truly created a best of class work. He examines what is so often considered purely an emotional issue with a logical examination that is based entirely on reason. This Harvard-educated philosopher destroys the false stereotype that persons can be against abortion only for religious reasons but instead shows that the only rational position is pro-life. Every reasonable person concerned with the issue of abortion would do well to understand the argument from this perspective. I would recommend this book highly to everyone, not the least our U.S. Supreme Court justices.