Abortion & Creative Ethical Problem
Chapter 11 – Fictional counterexamples and Abortion
Philosopher Judith Jarvis Thompson (1929- ) has created three fictitious counterexamples in order to provide moral justification for and help us think about abortion in cases of rape, danger to the mother’s health, and failed birth control. For the sake of argument, Thompson is willing to concede that the fetus is, in fact, an innocent human being with a right to life. Research her counterexamples of the concert violinist, the big baby, and people seeds. Discuss the structure of the arguments and whether Thompson has made her case.
Abortion & Creative Ethical Problem
Chapter 12 – Bullying – Cheating, Kinda Cheating, Collaboration, or Creative Ethical Problem Solving?
Maggie stares at the clock. She has been working on the same math problem for over one-half hour and cannot solve it. She must pass this test. Although mathematics is not her strongest subject, she has studied hard for this exam and knows all the formulas. Right now she is suffering from math and test-taking anxiety because she can’t seem to solve this high value problem.
She is sitting next to her friend Rod. She likes Rod, he laughs at all her jokes and makes her feel good, and Rod is good at math. Seated behind Maggie is Stewart, a soccer player who is also good at math and likes Maggie.
Scenario #1: When the teacher turns his back, Maggie leans left tan takes a quick glance at Rod’s test. He is using a different formula on the troublesome problem. Maggie uses the other formula on the problem and is able to solve it correctly showing all her work.
Abortion & Creative Ethical Problem
Scenario #2: Maggie is about to lean left and look at Rod’s paper when Stewart, who sensed Maggie’s frustration and looked at her test, Taps her on the shoulder. “Maggie,” he whispers almost loud enough for the professor to hear, “Use the other formula!” Maggie heeds Stewart’s advice and uses a different formula. She is able to solve the problem correctly and show all of her work.
Did Maggie cheat? Or, was this acceptable collaboration or even creative problem solving? In both scenarios, Maggie knew how to use the formula correctly and did all the work herself. Was this just “kinda” cheating? Or, were Maggie’s actions acceptable? Do you see any relevant differences between scenario #1 and scenario #2? What should Maggie have done? What would you have done? Discuss and give reasons to support your answers. Judith Jarvis Thompson, “A Defense of Abortion” Philosophy and Public Affairs 1, no. 1 (Fall, 1971; 47-66. APA Referencing Style.