Explain the Different Accounts of the Right to Life That

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The Answer is In her essay "A Defense of Abortion," Judith Jarvis Thomson discusses several different accounts of the right to life.

First, she considers the "extreme view" that holds that every fetus has a right to life from the moment of conception. This view, she argues, is problematic because it fails to account for cases where a woman's life is at risk due to the pregnancy, or cases of rape or incest.

Next, she discusses the "moderate view" that acknowledges a woman's right to abortion in cases where her life is at risk, but still maintains that the fetus has a right to life in other circumstances. Thomson finds this view to be more plausible, but still raises objections to it, particularly in cases where a woman has taken precautions to prevent pregnancy and still becomes pregnant.

Finally, Thomson presents her own account of the right to life, which she calls the "right to life" view. This view holds that a fetus has a right to life only if it is not the result of rape, and if the woman has not taken precautions to prevent pregnancy. In cases where these conditions are not met, Thomson argues that the woman's right to bodily autonomy takes precedence over the fetus's right to life.

Ultimately, Thomson does not definitively decide which account of the right to life is correct. Instead, she presents these different views and raises objections to each of them.

As for whether her account is plausible, it ultimately depends on one's personal beliefs and values. Some may find Thomson's arguments compelling and agree with her conclusion that a woman's right to bodily autonomy should take precedence in certain circumstances. Others may find her account less plausible, particularly if they hold a strong belief in the inherent right to life of the fetus. Overall, Thomson's essay sparks important and complex discussions about the right to life and abortion, and her account is certainly thought-provoking.

Explain the Different Accounts of the Right to Life That

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