ABORTION

On what question does Don Marquis say the question of the morality of abortion stands or falls? What's wrong with killing a fully grown human being according to Marquis? How does Marquis attempt to use this same reason to explain the wrongness of abortion? How does Marquis stake out his position so that abortion is immoral but contraception is still permissible? Marquis says that "[the pro-choicer] may attempt to find reasons why killing infants, young children, and the severely retarded is wrong which are independent of her major principle that is supposed to explain the wrongness of taking human life, but which will not also make abortion immoral. This is no easy task.." Why isn't it an easy task? Explain the dilemma for the pro-choicer.

What is the famous violinist example put forward by Judith Jarvis Thompson. What is it supposed to show? How is the argument weak? What is the coma patient analogy?

What are some answers to the pro-choice arguments that we don't know when life begins, that a woman has a right to control her own body? What are some objection to "unwanted children" or "quality of life" arguments in favor of abortion?

For what reasons to women typically get abortions in the U.S.? What did Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton rulings have to say with regard to abortion? Under these two laws, what restrictions, if any, are there on abortion? What is partial-birth abortion and why was the procedure banned by Federal law? What arguments are there to keep abortion legal, even if immoral?

What were so-called "bubble" laws related to abortion and why were they struck down by the supreme court? What sort of help, if any, do pro-life organizations give pregnant mothers who decide not to have an abortion?