Study Guide
Don Marquis - Why Abortion is Immoral
1. Why does Marquis think the two sides of the abortion debate often end
up in a standoff?
2. How does Marquis think the two sides of the abortion debate deal with
this standoff? What does Marquis think is the result?
3. What does Marquis think of the standard anti-abortionist principle "It
is prima facie seriously wrong to kill a human being"?
4. What does Marquis think of the principle "Only persons have a right to
life"? How is the quotation from Feinberg relevant to this point?
5. What would Warren say about the case of Karen Ann Quinlan, that Marquis
mentions?
6. What does Marquis think is necessary to resolve the abortion controversy?
7. What answers to the question "Why is it wrong to kill us?" does Marquis
reject? Why?
8. What answer to the question "Why is it wrong to kill us?" does Marquis
accept? Why?
9. What implications would Marquis' view on the wrongness of killing have
in cases other than that of abortion? For instance, what does Marquis say
his view will imply about possible species on other planets? What about other
species that do in fact exist on this planet? What about euthanasia?
10. How does Marquis think his view will compare with Warren's view on the
wrongness of killing infants and young children?
11. Does Marquis' argument rely on a notion of potential personhood? (What
does he think?/what do you think?)
12. Explain the two alternative accounts of the wrongness of killing that
Marquis examines, the discontinuation account and the desire account. What
problems does Marquis find with each?
13. How does Marquis address the objection that his view implies that using
contraception is also seriously immoral? Is he successful?