ABSTRACT
Abortion is a moral issue that has attracted a lot of controversial views from both the supporters and the denialists. The arguments of the pro-lifers and the pro-choicers presents abortion as a social phenomenon that has both ethical and moral implications. This is because if we accepts the pro-lifers view that, abortion is bad without any qualification then, such acceptance will be contrary to the principle of situation ethics which recognizes that it is not at all time might justify a bad action. But, if the pro-choicers, that a woman has the right to determine whether to abort a baby or not, then will be encouraging murder and abuse of the fundamental human right of right to life, as well as going against the commandment of God, which says thou shall not kill. Considering this dilemma inherent in the abortion question, it is our contention in this work that abortion on demand is bad, that the only type of abortion could be morally justified is thereapecutic abortion, that is abortion carried out because, it is the only solution to saving the life of a pregnant mother.
INTRODUCTION
Abortion is a moral issue that has exercise the minds of both philosophers, medical parishioners and religious both philosophers, medical parishioners and religious groups as well, As a moral issue justification of the rightness or wrongness or the goodness or badness of the reasons for procuring or undergoing abortion has always told the line of ethical principles some have supported the desire for an action based on the egoistic principle and the liberalist view that, man has the right to choose what is good for him or her while others have vehemently criticized abortion on the utilitarian plato form and the belief that it doesn’t bring greater good to the greater number of individuals in the society. This diversity in the views people relish about abortion has presented it as a dilemma,that needs a reconciliation and demystification.
In today society a lot of people undergo the process of abortion because of many reasons. Some undergo the process simply to maintain their social status and career; some do it because they want to correct their careless and promiscuous behaviours and actions. But to some people abortion is undergone to prevent the excavation of the negative effects of the biological and chemical in balance in the womb that is to say, some times, people undergo bortion mainly because, it has been discovered that having the child will result on their death or cause more harm to their system. Now, the cogency of these reasons depends on the right judgement of the conscience of both the woman in question and the physician who will carry out the processes. Hence abortion is a subject of both moral and ethical consideration. As a moral issue, the desire for its procurement or administration is supposed to be justified by one’s conscient which is the faculty of judgement instituted in man’s reason by God. However, some people have sold their conscience and resort to their egocentric disposition in all they do. As an ethical issue laws has been made to enforce the morality behind the practice of abortion. This is why we have the abortion law and the criminal code in the Nigerian constitution.
Another factor whose increasing effects have necessitated the work is the extent to which most girls and even women involve themselves in reckless abortion not minding the moral and the legal laws of the country. The effects of this act have really cause Nigeria a lot. The have led to both moral decadence and losses of lives. Hence, in this work, attempt would been made to examine the nature of abortion; the justification for its practices and the need to appeal to the innate moral inclination of man before deciding to go for an abortion.
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