Actor James Franco has a YouTube channel entitled “Philosophy Time.” He recently had a Princeton University ethicist explain the morality of early term abortion. Her rationale was simple, but still convoluted; she says there are two different kinds of fetuses - one with a future and one without.
Those that have a future are considered of moral worth. Those who are “terminated” are without moral significance. Mr. Franco appeared skeptical, the idea that moral worth is determined by the whim of another did seem to be an odd assertion. Perhaps it would’ve been good to ask, “What about mothers who change their minds?”
) If the mother had decided that the child had unique, moral significance, but then was convinced to change her mind, did the child’s moral significance magically change? And the child, whom she meant to abort but was unsuccessful in aborting, was born and lived, is that not a morally and ethically protected individual? Why?
