Ways to Talk About AbortionAims of DiscussionSlide 3LabelsIntegrity-Preserving Compromise (IPC)IPC (cont)IPC (cont.)Definition of IPCCircumstances Favoring IPCCan you imagine the broad outlines of an integrity-preserving compromise on abortion between “pro-life” and “pro-choice” sides in US?Possible IPC on AbortionDifferent Approaches“Maternal-fetal conflict”Which conflict?Why important?Definition of a pregnant woman: a gravid uterus and its support structuresTake-home message from feminist ethicsWays to Talk About Ways to Talk About AbortionAbortionAims of DiscussionAims of DiscussionNOT to discuss whether abortion is NOT to discuss whether abortion is morally right or morally wrongmorally right or morally wrongRather to discuss what should Rather to discuss what should happen in a democratic, happen in a democratic, pluralistic society when there pluralistic society when there are such deep moral divisions are such deep moral divisions about abortionabout abortionAims of DiscussionAims of DiscussionCan we have a thoughtful, Can we have a thoughtful, mutually respectful dialogue over mutually respectful dialogue over public policy on abortion?public policy on abortion?Is it possible such a dialogue could Is it possible such a dialogue could lead to an lead to an integrity-preserving integrity-preserving compromisecompromise on abortion policy? on abortion policy?LabelsLabelsWould it help to get rid of labels?Would it help to get rid of labels?Are “pro-life” really anti-choice?Are “pro-life” really anti-choice?Are “pro-choice” really anti-life?Are “pro-choice” really anti-life?Do such labels enhance Do such labels enhance mutually respectfulmutually respectful dialogue? dialogue?Need fuller descriptions of Need fuller descriptions of beliefs?beliefs?Integrity-Preserving Integrity-Preserving Compromise (IPC)Compromise (IPC)Benjamin, Benjamin, Splitting the DifferenceSplitting the Difference (1990)(1990)Tend to assume that Tend to assume that compromisecompromise and and integrityintegrity are mutually exclusive are mutually exclusiveClaim: One can Claim: One can compromisecompromise on on policy without policy without compromisingcompromising one’s one’s integrity in many (but not all) casesintegrity in many (but not all) casesIPC (cont)IPC (cont)Sometimes dialogue reveals a Sometimes dialogue reveals a solution in which solution in which eacheach party can party can maintain maintain allall of his/her moral of his/her moral values (I.e. no values (I.e. no realreal moral conflict moral conflict between positions)between positions)This is wonderfulThis is wonderfulThis is not IPC howeverThis is not IPC howeverIPC (cont.)IPC (cont.)In IPC each has to give up In IPC each has to give up somesome moral values to reach compromisemoral values to reach compromiseFeels justified in doing so because Feels justified in doing so because deeper or higher prioritydeeper or higher priority moral moral values are maintained via values are maintained via compromise or compromise compromise or compromise processprocessDefinition of IPCDefinition of IPCNeither side gets all it wantedNeither side gets all it wantedEach side hangs onto some core Each side hangs onto some core valuesvaluesBoth sides share certain core valuesBoth sides share certain core valuesEach side sees itself compromising its Each side sees itself compromising its position not its integrityposition not its integrityEach side hopes eventually to win Each side hopes eventually to win over other via over other via respectfulrespectful dialogue dialogueCircumstances Favoring Circumstances Favoring IPCIPCCommon commitment to shared taskCommon commitment to shared taskNeither side can “fire” other side Neither side can “fire” other side (rough equality of power)(rough equality of power)Short term benefits of agreementShort term benefits of agreementIn longer term can continue moral In longer term can continue moral debatedebateExample: Hospital ethics committeeExample: Hospital ethics committeeCan you imagine the Can you imagine the broad outlines of an broad outlines of an integrity-preserving integrity-preserving compromise on abortion compromise on abortion between “pro-life” and between “pro-life” and “pro-choice” sides in US?“pro-choice” sides in US?Possible IPC on AbortionPossible IPC on AbortionDecision to work together to try to Decision to work together to try to reduce as much as possible the number reduce as much as possible the number of women with unwanted pregnancies of women with unwanted pregnancies who may seek abortionwho may seek abortionInclude Include allall methods of trying to avoid methods of trying to avoid unwanted pregnancyunwanted pregnancyContinue to disagree on whether Continue to disagree on whether abortion should be permitted as last abortion should be permitted as last resortresortDifferent ApproachesDifferent ApproachesAnalytic ethics: moral status Analytic ethics: moral status of the fetusof the fetusFeminist ethics: relationship Feminist ethics: relationship between mother and fetusbetween mother and fetus““Maternal-fetal conflict”Maternal-fetal conflict”Refusal of C-section “needed” to Refusal of C-section “needed” to save life of infantsave life of infantMother addicted to alcohol or other Mother addicted to alcohol or other drugsdrugsMother refuses fetal surgery for Mother refuses fetal surgery for known defectknown defectWhich conflict?Which conflict?Andre: Is this really Andre: Is this really maternal-maternal-fetalfetal or or maternal-maternal-physicianphysician conflict? conflict?Why important?Why important?““Maternal-fetal” eliminates mention of Maternal-fetal” eliminates mention of physician, as if purely scientific observerphysician, as if purely scientific observer““Maternal-fetal” Maternal-fetal” assumesassumes physician not physician not mother speaks for fetusmother speaks for fetus““Maternal-fetal Maternal-fetal conflict conflict ” assumes that ” assumes that conflict is nature of relationship between conflict is nature of relationship between mother and child-to-be (so physician mother and child-to-be (so physician must “referee”)must “referee”)Definition of a pregnant Definition of a pregnant woman: a gravid uterus woman: a gravid uterus and its support