Abortion and Unborn Human Life [Paperback]

Patrick Lee (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813208467 | ISBN-13: 978-0813208466 | Publication Date: May 1996

Is it ever morally right to procure an abortion, to help procure one, or to perform one? Patrick Lee surveys the main philosophical arguments in favor of the moral permissibility of abortion and refutes them point by point. In a calm and philosophically sophisticated manner, he presents a powerful case for the pro-life position and a serious challenge to all of the main philosophical arguments on behalf of the pro-choice position. Lee's method is strictly philosophical, with special attention given to authors in the broadly analytical school of thought. He contends that what is killed in abortion is indeed an individual human being. Attempts to argue otherwise are carefully presented and criticized, as are other attempts to justify abortion morally.

Since 1996 when the first edition of Abortion and Unborn Human Life appeared, the debate about the morality of abortion has not subsided. From the standpoint of philosophy many issues have become clearer. Accordingly, Patrick Lee confirms his position that unborn human beings have an equal and inherent dignity and are subjects of basic rights from the moment of fertilization. In this second edition, Lee provides significant updates in view of recent developments.

Among the developments have been an added precision required for the argument against the gradualist position, the position that a human being only gradually comes to be; significant developments in embryology strengthening the case that at fertilization a new human individual comes to be; and further refinements to the argument that some abortions are non-intentional killing.

Lee argues that what is at stake in this debate about how to treat unborn human beings is whether we will or will not recognize the fundamental equal dignity possessed by every human being, simply by virtue of being the kind of being he or she is.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Readers looking for a succinct and narrowly defined philosophical argument against abortion will find this book appealing. Lee expresses the philosophical case against abortion in a simple syllogism on the first page of the book, then asserts that there are only three ways to challenge the argument enshrined in that syllogism. The book consists of extended arguments against each of those three ways. It is useful as a review of the past several decades of philosophical debate on abortion, and it may help readers understand how lines get drawn in such philosophical debate. Steve Schroeder --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Lee is an expert guide through the maze of a sharply contested debate-one with chilling implications for our society. -- Prof. James G. Hanink, Loyola Marymount University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Catholic University of America Press (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813208467
• ISBN-13: 978-0813208466
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #969,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent defense of the pro-life position., April 20, 1999

By 

DEAN STRETTON (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abortion and Unborn Human Life (Paperback)

"Abortion and Unborn Human Life" is quite simply one of the best philosophical defenses of the pro-life position. The book is impressive in its clarity, its complete avoidance of emotional rhetoric, and Lee's willingness to address the most sophisticated pro-choice arguments.

Lee's book will be welcomed mainly by those who are interested in the _philosophical_ issues behind the abortion debate. There are no slogans, no sound-bites, no pictures of thumb-sucking foetuses here -- merely calm, rational argumentation. This is a refreshing change, and it is precisely what the abortion debate generally lacks.

As a pro-choicer, I do think Lee's arguments are flawed. His arguments in favour of foetal personhood are particularly tendentious. Nevertheless, the book presents a formidable challenge to the pro-choice position, and interested parties owe it to themselves to read it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, February 10, 2006

By 

Patrick T. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abortion and Unborn Human Life (Paperback)

I have read a number of books on the abortion issue (both pro/con), and this is certainly one of the best philosophical defenses of the pro-life position. Be warned: if you're looking for partisan ranting or emotional appeals--i.e. abortion is wrong because liberals are evil people, or because God said so, or because babies are cute--this is not that book. Purely philosophical. Well thought out, well written. Anyone wishing to discuss this issue beyond simple slogans should read this book. Highly recommended.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thorough defense of the pro-life position, March 21, 2002

By 

Scott M. Sullivan (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abortion and Unborn Human Life (Paperback)

Dr Lee offers devastating criticism of the pro-choice position on abortion. The reviewer below is a sad and tragic example of the poor argumentation that is offered for being pro-choice. While acknowledging that the unborn is a human person, still she calls this person a "parasite", the same chilling term the Nazi propaganda film "The Eternal Jew" used to describe the Jewish population.

One can only wonder how well this reviewer below read Dr. Lee's book, as he discusses abortion in the context of the life of the mother and sees it as justifiable in a sense of non-intentional taking of life based on a principle of double effect.

Additionally, Dr Lee's points would do well to show these sorts of arguments below could be also used to justify infanticide, as all children rely on their parents bodies for "life-support" whether it be through breast feeding, the administering of medicine, etc. Child support laws force parents to make use of their bodies (like go to work and pay money) in ways the dead beat parent may not wish.

Dr Lee does a fine job here of not only refuting this sort of emotional "run of the mill" argument below, but also the more sophisticated philosophical and scientific points brought forward by the pro-choice crowd. Included is a critique of the moral theory known as "consequentialism", a rebuttal of the famous "violinist argument", and a host of other very useful information.

This is one of the top books on the market regarding presenting a persuasive rational argument for the prolife view.