Is Abortion Considered The Taking Of Human Life Philosophy Essay

Is Abortion Considered The Taking Of Human Life Philosophy Essay An abortion refers to the premature termination of a pregnancy. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p254). Many ethical issues arise from abortion, however the main ones to be discussed are regarding whether or not abortion is considered the taking of human life, and whose decision is it to determine whether or not they should be permitted. Ultimately, the most significant concepts surrounding abortion relate to the Value of Human Life and The Principal of Individual Freedom. The Value of Life refers to the idea that our lives are a basic possession. Every person experiences their own lives in a unique way, and no-one can truly live anothers life. Each individual must be treated as unique, however this does not discard the concept that ending of a human life cannot be justified, rather it is believed it should not be ended without very strong justification. Consequently, it is deemed morally wrong to end a persons life against their will. The Principal of Individual Freedom basically states that as individuals, we must possess the freedom to choose our own ways and means of being moral within the framework of the other four principals. Because no person or situation is exactly like another, there must be some freedom for those people to deal with these different circumstances in a manner that best suits them (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Pro-Life and Pro-Choice There are two extreme views concerning abortion, and these are the ones of pro-life (against abortion), and pro-choice (permit abortion). The first view is that of Pro-Life, who ultimately believes that the conceptus has an absolute right to life, and this is where the Value of Life Principal arises. There are certain key stages in the conceptuss development which reinforce this belief, these include the following; By the third week, the embryo is developing various parts and a week later its heart begins to beat. Continuing to week five, divisions of the brain occur and the development of eyes and limb buds appear. By the seventh and eight week, sexual characteristics can be recognised, there is some lower brain anatomy and the fetus has developed some reflex reactions. Therefore, since ultimately their genetic view that life begins at conception, abortion is associated with murder, as it is the act of taking human life. Pro-lifes arguments are based on the value of life, that is, the right to life is absolute, especially the right of unborn life and its innocence. Thus, every unborn child should be regarded as human and receive all rights deserved from the moment of conception onwards (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Whether we believe that the fetus is a person or not, its debatable that a woman has some sort of ethical responsibility to the fetus. Also, abortions further along in the pregnancy are even more heavily concerned with the assumption of taking a human life because they feel there is something very human about the fetus as its development has continued (Ethics of Abortion 2010). There are a number of other issues concerning abortion, for instance, the medical and psychological effects of abortion on women are harmful, the dangers of pregnancy are almost irrelevant because of technological advances therefore abortions are unnecessary, there are alternatives to an abortion such as adoption, and the belief that women must accept full responsibility for their actions and innocent life cannot be sacrificed if they fail to do so through their own carelessness. Even when it comes to rape, destruction of innocent unborn human life is still not justified. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p262). Pro-life believe that if women want complete control over their body, then control should include using contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Therefore, if a woman fails to use these measures and falls pregnant, she must bear the responsibility and consequences for her actions, rather than sacrificing human life (Women Issues 2010). The second extreme view is that of Pro-Choice, who are greatly in favour of abortion on request by the woman. Pro-choice believe that woman have absolute rights over their bodies, and the conceptus is part of a womans body until birth. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p272). Therefore, how can the conceptus be considered a human life before birth? This is where The Principal of Individual Freedom arises, where people should have a choice to determine what is best for them in their own circumstances. The argument continues with concerns of those fetuss which have been diagnosed with deformities, and therefore pro-choice believes that deformed children should not be brought into the world because of their burden on the health care system and ultimately society. This is also relative to children who are unwanted. Why bring a child into the world who is unwanted? What benefit does that place on the mother and also society? Especially if a woman is potentially an unfit mother, what kind of life would that leave for the child? (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Adoption is considered an alternative to abortion by pro-life, however adoption is not always a solution and certainly are not as honourable as depicted. There are a number of adoption agencies that are down-right inhumane and surely no place for young children. In addition, when pregnancy results from rape or incense, the woman should never have to go through the birth because of the circumstances of the conception. Forcing a woman to go through the pregnancy as a result of such a violent act will just cause more psychological harm, and the child may be neglected and a reminder of the trauma endured (Women Issues 2010). It is difficult to relate to why people choose abortion if you dont have personal experience, or are personally associated with someone who does, therefore who are you to say they cannot have one? Pro-life are basically asking us to consider real life situations rather than vote on abstract potentially uninformed beliefs. (The Sydney Morning Herald 2010). Ultimately, abortion must be totally a matter of the womans choice and private decision and no one else should be able to interfere (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Utilitarianism Applied to Abortion Utilitarianism refers to the ethical theory that everyone should perform that act or follow that moral rule that will bring about the greatest good (or happiness) for everyone concerned. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p42). When concerning abortion, it would seem to best apply the rule-utilitarianism, which refers to setting up a series of general morals and rules which can be applied to every moral question based, and when followed, yield the greatest good (Abortion: Ethical Analysis 2010). When this is applied to abortion, it can be argued that abortion is a completely ethical entity that will provide the most amount of happiness for the majority of people. This is reinforced by the statistics from the related newspaper article, which states, A survey of 1050 Australians investigating attitudes to early and late abortion published in the Medical Journal of Australia shows remarkably strong public support for women being able to access abortion at all stages of pregnancy, including after 24 weeks. (The Sydney Morning Herald 2010). An example of this view, is relative to a woman who may end up being an unfit mother to a child. If a 16-year old drug-addict were pregnant, would it not be in everyones best interest protect the child from the possibility of psychological and physical abuse, and ultimately a suffering lifetime? Pro-life views the situations concerning the fetus, where an abortion causes pain to the fetus and ultimately results in killing. However, from a utilitarian viewpoint, this focus on the fetus is unnecessary because its believed that the suffering involved can be avoided by an early abortion, that is before the fetus can develop the capability to undergo pain. Generally, the suffering of the fetus cannot be considered a strong argument against abortion (Utilitarian Org. 2010). In contrast, another view of utilitarianism is that the future life of the fetus would have had a probable balance of happiness over suffering, which is a definite argument against abortion, although not a dominant one. Another contrasting aspect is concerned with population size. If population decreases, utility will prescribe reproduction in order to increase it once again. This would create a shift will create the greatest of happiness to the most people. In this case, utility will generally oppose abortion. As a result of the views of a utilitarian, a general prescription either for or against abortion is extremely difficult to justify, as each case has its own significant and specific features (Utilitarian Org. 2010). Kants Categorical Imperative Kants Categorical Imperative basically emphasises that an act is immoral if the rule that would authorise it cannot be made into a rule for all human beings to follow. (Thiroux Krasemann 2009, p58). This is the belief that an act is considered to be moral solely because it adheres to a rule, therefore creating some sort of moral authority (Inquisitive 2010). A relative aspect of this theory concerns killing another human being. According to Kant, a person cannot kill another person being without violating a moral absolute. Therefore, killing is immoral and contradicts the Categorical Imperative, because essentially the meaning of life is to live (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Kant also believes there must a universal morality that must be capable of being applied to every situation without exception (Inquisitive 2010). When Kants Categorical Imperative is applied to abortion, it is looking for the moral authority. According to this theory, Kant would state that, abortion is murder, rather than if you have an abortion, you are committing murder. However, Kant also believes in Good Will, which emphasises in doing the right thing, and consequences are irrelevant (Inquisitive 2010). Therefore, who is it to say that abortion is not doing the right thing under certain circumstances? In a number of different circumstances, as noted before, there are a number of situations where abortion may be the best and/or right thing to do. This may be relevant to women who are in danger if they continue with the birth, and the safer option would be to have an abortion. However, through this theory it is believed that if we condone abortion, then we are ultimately suggesting that killing is moral. Consequently, Kant is in favour that killing is moral and only under extreme consequences can it be justified (Thiroux Krasemann 2009). Conclusion In conclusion, the issues surrounding abortion are vast and there will always be those strongly opposed and in favour of the practice of it. With Kants Categorical Imperative, if everyone considered that abortion is moral, then we are condoning that essentially murder is moral. However, this encroaches on the rights we have as humans. Ultimately we believe we have control over our own bodies, therefore, who is it to say what we choose and believe is the best in our own interests? In my personal belief, I am ultimately on the side of pro-choice, as there could be detrimental effects if it ever became illegal. From a moral view, it is seen to be killing another person, however, there are certain circumstances that abortions are necessary or would be the best option concerning those involved. Especially with the circumstances of rape, I believe no one has the right to force an unwanted pregnancy that resulted from a traumatic experience. In addition, The Principal of Individual Freedom has the most effect as we all have our individual lives and what we consider to be most beneficial to us, should ultimately be established and not influenced or forced otherwise.

Beauty and Other Deep Superficial Desires

In our affluent society, we can be said to have everything: our work is not backbreaking. In fact, working conditions are good, and many of us strive to do good work. Technology has advanced so far that we are living longer and better lives. We have come to address many social ills, such as poverty and social forms of oppression, like racism. But more than ever, we Americans seem more and more unhappy and unsatisfied.What accounts for the disparity between the relative comfort and affluence of our lives, and the inversely proportional pleasure we take in living our lives?In his essay â€Å"The Progress of Paradox,† Greg Easterbrook argues that a general discontent and alienation in our culture today come to us because our lives are filled with choices (a glut of choices) but have little meaning. Easterbrook seems to adopt a view of human beings as naturally pessimistic (if left to their own devices), and urges Americans to be more optimistic and to return to seeking more trans cendent experiences that are currently offered by the cornucopia of sex and violence that passes for American culture.Easterbrook is a self-avowed Christian, so talk of pursuing transcendence is code for religious faith, but may be forgiven this given the work that he puts into making his arguments through evidence. Just because, as he puts it, millions of Americans can afford to spend a lot of money on vanity induced plastic surgery, such as â€Å"the navel touch-up† (Easterbrook, 402) does not mean that this is how our resources should or could best be spent.We should instead turn out considerable resources and wealth to trying to make a difference in the world of the less advantaged peoples of the world; this might be worth while and more fulfilling than the choices we seem to be making instead. Where Easterbrook interprets the rise of elective plastic surgery as a superficial and meaningless activity, a sign of our devolution into decadence, Naomi Wolf, on the other hand, sees the beauty industry’s practices as full of meaning.For a woman who considers getting plastic surgery, the question is not a superficial or vacuous one. She writes: â€Å"The beauty myth is always actually prescribing behavior and not appearance† (Wolf, 489). Beauty is never skin deep; that is, one reason why a woman might want to be beautiful is because her exterior appearance is taken to be a sign of her worth and of her interior personhood. A beautiful woman is thought to be a good woman, one who is disciplined and whose life is in proportion.This is evidenced in work that is done with women (and increasingly more and more men) who suffer from eating disorders. These individuals report that, for then, their eating disorders are about control, about showing the world that they have great discipline and are inherently good, disciplined, and virtuous in the particularly American protestant work ethic (See Bordo below, whom I read for another class).Where Easterbro ok fails to see underneath the surface of the plastic surgery craze, Naomi wolf shows us that it is behaviors that are the aim, not simply appearance. The gendered analysis is important because we can begin to question why it is women’s preoccupation with image that is taken as the chief example of frivolous vacuity, when surely men’s investment is the pornography industry can be read as a much more morally objectionable practice.In any case, all of these practices can be taken together and read as signs, as symbols by which culture communicates a code of acceptability to its members. According to popular semiotics professor and cultural critic Jack Solomon: â€Å"America is a nation of fantasizers, often preferring the sign to the substance and easily enthralled by a veritable Fantasy Island of commercial illusions† (Solomon, 413). What Solomon describes is an America closer to that imagined by Easterbrook, but minus the normativity.That is, Solomon sees meanin g in every little sign or symbol in culture. Either all is surface play of meaning without depth, or all these signs point to a depth beyond the immediately apparent. According to this viewpoint, the problem of our culture is not that we have lost touch with some transcendent being (read: God), but that we prefer not to be on communion with anything grander than a pair of Ferragamo shoes or a Ferrari car. We love our status symbols and our wealth, and the dazzling display satisfies us, if only for a short while.We are a nation of dreamers and we will believe in this dream of prosperity for as long as we possibly can. Bibliography Bordo, Susan. (2004) â€Å"Reading the slender body. † Unbearable Weight. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. Easterbrook, Greg. (2003) The Progress Paradox. New York: Random House. Solomon, Jack. (1990) The Sign Of Our Times. New York: HarperCollins. Wolf, Naomi. (2002) The Beauty Myth. New York: Harper Perennial.

Huckleberry & Finn

Is or isn’t Huck Finn racist? Does reading Huck Finn help or harm race relations? I believe Huck Finn isn’t racist but shows some race relations. Throughout the entire novel Huck repeatedly says the word,† nigger† but intentionally we cannot blame Huck, because that’s the way Huck was raised. In chapter 8 on page 41, Huck and Jim seem to grow a bond, a bond that society wouldn’t accept, when Huck later finds out that Jim ran away and were wondering in the woods they seem to develop a close friendship. Huck could have told someone that Jim ran away but instead Huck accepted Jim and took part in an adventure along with Jim. In chapter 15, Huck and Jim talked about how close they are to a free state. Later in the novel we realize that Jim talks to Huck in a way that blacks aren’t supposed to, but Jim doesn’t see Huck like other white men and women, Jim looks at Huck like a friend. In chapter 16 on page 88, Huck starts to show some hesitation towards setting Jim free, Huck knows that setting a black person free wasn’t the right thing to do. In chapter 40, Huck and Tom found a way to help Jim escaped from being enslaved. This is a clear indication that Huck shows no form of racism towards Jim or anyone else, but the reason why he say the things he say and acts the way he act is just simply how Huck was raised. Huckleberry & Finn Is or isn’t Huck Finn racist? Does reading Huck Finn help or harm race relations? I believe Huck Finn isn’t racist but shows some race relations. Throughout the entire novel Huck repeatedly says the word,† nigger† but intentionally we cannot blame Huck, because that’s the way Huck was raised. In chapter 8 on page 41, Huck and Jim seem to grow a bond, a bond that society wouldn’t accept, when Huck later finds out that Jim ran away and were wondering in the woods they seem to develop a close friendship. Huck could have told someone that Jim ran away but instead Huck accepted Jim and took part in an adventure along with Jim. In chapter 15, Huck and Jim talked about how close they are to a free state. Later in the novel we realize that Jim talks to Huck in a way that blacks aren’t supposed to, but Jim doesn’t see Huck like other white men and women, Jim looks at Huck like a friend. In chapter 16 on page 88, Huck starts to show some hesitation towards setting Jim free, Huck knows that setting a black person free wasn’t the right thing to do. In chapter 40, Huck and Tom found a way to help Jim escaped from being enslaved. This is a clear indication that Huck shows no form of racism towards Jim or anyone else, but the reason why he say the things he say and acts the way he act is just simply how Huck was raised.

Corporate Strategy of Adidas - 8206 Words

Corporate Strategy Of Adidas SCOPE OF THE FIRM VERTICAL INTEGRATION STRATEGIES (EXISTING MARKET/ DIFFERENT STAGE OF PRODUCTION) A vertical integration strategy describes â€Å"The degree to which a firm owns its upstream suppliers and its downstream buyers† (Blackwell Reference Online, Vertical Integration Strategy). The purpose of vertical integration is to increase the control of the stages of development. In the early beginnings Adidas produced all the shoes and apparel on its own. Through the huge expansion in the last decades Adidas does not produce all their apparel on its own. Today Adidas owns 9 own factories where it produces some of its products. Further, it has around 615 main suppliers from all over the world. Production is†¦show more content†¦Employee Public Opinion: There can be negative perceptions with outsourcing and the sympathy of lost jobs. GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group selling its products in more than 150 countries around the world. Adidas is a multinational company because aside from its main parent headquarters Herzogenaurach, Germany, it has set up regional headquarters in other countries, such as United States of America, China, Indonesia, Great Britain, Middle East and so on. Such a globalized company has profound effects on the company itself and the host countries. Adidas Inc. is a marketer of sports apparel and athletic shoes. The German manufacturer, through its marketing strategy which rests on a favorable brand image, has evolved into a large multinational enterprise. â€Å"For over 80 years, Adidas has been part of the world of sports on every level, delivering state of-the-art sports footwear, apparel and accessories. Today, Adidas is a global leader not only in the shoe industry, but also in the sporting goods industry. 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