Judith Thomsons' Defense of Abortion - Essay Example

A Defense of Abortion Judith Thomson’s essay ‘A Defense of Abortion’ makes a number of colorful examples in supporting abortion. One of the most prominent of these examples involves a famous violinist. In this example, a person has woken up and found themselves in a hospital room. While this occurrence is slightly odd, more odd is the recognition that the individual is strapped against their will to a famous violinist. Since the person has the violinists’ rare blood type they are required to stay in the room for the next nine months.

Within the context of abortion the metaphor is very clear. Thomson is arguing that the person who is connected to the violinist is the mother, while the famous violinist is the child. While in some instances the mother chooses to have a child, in other situations – most prominently rape – this happens without her will. This argument is effective in demonstrating the absurdity of forcing an individual to go through the nine-month pregnancy procedure entirely against their will. While many people would support the recognition that it is a good practice to help other individuals, particularly famous violinists, the notion that individuals should be forced to aid another person against their will crosses an ethical line.

I believe that in situations where the individual was impregnated against their will, the ultimate decision as to what should occur with their bodies should be the individual’s. Although it’s upsetting that abortions occur, it’s clear that in many life situations they are a necessary medical procedure for all parties involved. References Thomson, Judith. ‘A Defense of Abortion’. Philosophy & Public Affairs, Vol. 1, no. 1. 1971.