The Eagles Made Me Late

In discussing the case of the pregnant woman today in class, my aim was not to discuss the permissibility or impermissibility of the case, but rather the fact that the intend/foresee distinction was not doing the work. The abortion was a means to the end of saving the woman. In the case, it was necessary for the fetus to die in order to save the woman. Put another way, the woman would die if the fetus lived. Thus the intend/foresee distinction would have to say that it is impermissible for the pregnancy to be aborted to save the woman. Furthermore, it is a bit unnerving to me to say that one would be intending the death of the child, although that seems to be the case. In the language that the intend/foresee distinction uses, one would be intending the death of the fetus, but in common sense morality as I see it, most would not consider it intended murder, but rather the saving of a woman. In any case, the intend/foresee disctinction does not allow the woman to be saved. However, many would think that she can have the child aborted. One explanation for this may use the idea of self-defense. However, if you are of the sort that feels that this idea loses weight when one defends oneself against an innocent person that happens to be a threat, than self-defense loses out. My opinion on the matter is that the abortion is permissible, but of the sort that is less preferred. However, to come to term while knowing you will die is to go above and beyond in that hero sort of way. You would be sacrificing yourself for the child. Thus, I feel that the abortion is permissible on the grounds that the alternative is a form of self-sacrifice. However, here is where I feel character also comes into play. Given the choices, one of greater character would choose to come to term with the child and just hope for the best for them. Even though it is morally permissible to abort the child, it is the lesser preferred choice on the grounds of character. Here is where I feel character affects decisions. It does not tell someone if an act is permissible or impermissible, but instead distinguishes between two acts that are both permissible, but one is better than the other. Also, it allows there to be a distinction between someone with bad intent that happens to act well and someone who meant good and did the same thing. It gives weight to the means prior to the end in order to prevent full consequentialism. I had troubles with consequentialism because I felt there was more to an act than its end result, and I think that the notion of character helps. As for the abortion, I would say don't do it, but I also can't say I'd blame you if you did.