Verlie Lamsis
ABORTION
1. Three Views of Abortion
a. The unborn is fully human
This view teaches that the fetus is a complete human being from conception with full moral worth and human rights.
Abortion at any stage is considered the taking of a human life.
b. The unborn is potentially human
This view teaches that the fetus is not yet fully human but gradually developing into one. Abortion may be allowed in
earlier stages.
c. The unborn is subhuman
This view states that the fetus is not a full person; therefore, abortion is acceptable anytime, based mainly on the
mother’s rights.
2. View: The Unborn Is Subhuman
People with this view support abortion on demand, believing that quality of life and the mother's privacy and freedom
outweigh fetal rights.
3. Arguments for Viewing the Fetus as Subhuman
• Self-consciousness argument: A fetus is not yet aware, so not yet a person.
• Physical dependence argument: The fetus depends on the mother’s body; therefore she may choose abortion.
• Safety argument: Legal abortion saves women from unsafe procedures.
• Abuse argument: Unwanted babies may be abused; abortion prevents this.
• Deformity argument: Disabled children may burden families; abortion avoids this.
• Privacy argument: A woman has full control over her body.
• Rape argument: A rape victim should not be forced to carry the child.
4. Responses to the Subhuman View
• Humanness is not based on consciousness.
• Embryos have their own identity—sex, blood type, brain waves.
• Legal abortion did not reduce deaths significantly.
• Abortion is argued to be the worst kind of child abuse.
5. View: The Fetus Is Potentially Human
The fetus becomes human gradually, so abortion is sometimes acceptable depending on circumstances.
6. Arguments for “Potentially Human” View
• Personality develops over time.
• Body and mind develop gradually.
• An embryo is like an acorn—having potential but not yet full identity.
7. Evaluation of “Potentially Human” View
• Personality is different from personhood.
• Consciousness is not necessary for humanness.
• The soul does not grow gradually with the body.
• The acorn analogy is incorrect—an acorn already contains full genetic identity.
8. View: The Fetus Is Fully Human
Abortion is always wrong because the unborn has full human status from conception. Mother’s right to privacy does
not outweigh the right to life.
9. Arguments for Fully Human View
• Biblical: Life is God’s creation from conception.
• Scientific: Full genetic code exists from conception; no additional information is added later.
10. Prenatal Development Evidence
• Month 1: Heartbeat begins.
• Month 2: Brain waves, fingerprints.
• Month 3: Movement, reflexes.
• Month 4: Hearing and rapid growth.
• Month 5: Viability outside the womb begins.