Cite Thomson’s -A Defense of Abortion- and Korman’s Learning from Arguments”*. Do include a works cited page! Your task in Paper: In “A Defense of Abortion,’ Judith Jarvis Thomson argues that abortion is sometimes morally permissible, even when we regard the fetus as a person with the right to life. One of her thought experiments toward this end involves an ailing violinist. The task of your final paper will be to explain and evaluate Thomson’s violinist argument. I’ve broken this task into four parts:
- Present Thomson’s violinist thought experiment, and the violinist argument that uses this thought experiment to establish that abortion is permissible in cases of pregnancy caused by rape. How does this argument work? Be sure to state and clearly explain the argument’s premises and conclusion.
a. Hint: One of the premises depends on an analogy between the case of the violinist and that of a mother who has become pregnant as a result of rape. In examining this analogy, be sure to consider how the rights of the violinist/fetus interact or compete with those of the kidnapped benefactor/mother. - Present the strongest objection you can to Thomson’s argument. How is this objection supposed to defeat her argument?
- Present the strongest response you can to the objection you just presented against Thomson. How is this response supposed to defend her argument?
Sample Solution
