Name: Diane S.

Chua
Section: 2nd yr.- S1 Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
Performance Task: Moral Assessment (Reflection Paper)
Subject: HUM 003, ETHICS

Title: “Are you in favor of the legalization of abortion in the Philippines?”

Situation: The Philippines is a country that is largely influenced by religion in its collective
moral choice. Individually, however, we choose as unique moral agents. Through this output, we
can know people’s moral lens in doing moral decisions and judgement.

Verbatim Interview

“Yes, medically speaking, unsafe abortion put these women’s lives in danger. So, with the
legalization of abortion, it lessens the risk of unsafe abortion. Also, to reduce maternal death due
to unwanted/unintended pregnancies (also unwanted pregnancies in rape cases). And, it would
protect both women’s health and their quality of living. Especially, during the current times, it
could help avert medical complications that could possibly be received during the pregnancy,
during child birth, or after both, whereas compared to before, wherein women were not given the
option nor the choice to do so and therefore had to find other means that were illegal, unsafe, and
dangerous. Moreover, in the legalizing of this safe medical procedure, there will be a decrease in
crime rates.”

Answered by: Fernando Fernandez

“My answer is yes, legalizing abortion doesn't mean encouraging people to abort or kill the baby
this will just give opportunities those who are victims of rape, not financially capable and etc. to
raise another human being in this world. For sure rape victims doesn’t want someone to remind
them of their tragic past. let them have second chance in life to pursue what they want without
any hesitation.”

Answered by: Denielle B.

Theories & Evaluation
Utilitarianism
Traditional ideas of abortion as an "evil" act were challenged by utilitarianism, which
argued that the aim justifies the means. Utilitarianism often favors pro-choice views, and Mill
was a firm believer in individual sovereign: “The person is sovereign over himself, his own
physique and thinking.” However, classical utilitarianism does not support the pro-choice
movement's position that a woman has the right to choose. Absolute rights are consistent with
Kant's or Natural Law's deontological ethics, but not with utilitarianism. Mill might be
understood as advocating for rule utilitarianism, which states that everyone should have the right
to make their own decisions. According to rule utilitarianism, we should design regulations that
benefit the greatest number of people. However, Mill can be understood as advocating for rule
utilitarianism, or the idea that everyone should have the freedom to make their own decisions.
Natural Law
Natural Law enquires as to what our human design or purpose is. Protecting and
preserving the innocent is one of the main tenets. 'Do not abort,' as a result of this alone, is a
secondary commandment. You don't have to think about it because Natural Law dictates that
killing an innocent person is not an option. There are no exceptions, but due to the double effect,
it may appear as if there are. Consider an ectopic pregnancy, in which the fetus develops in the
fallopian tube and both the mother and the fetus perish. Abortion is a sinful act that must be
avoided at all costs.
Situation Ethics
Situation Ethics arose from a tradition that saw abortion as a morally reprehensible
act. We should not get rid of rules, according to Fletcher, because they are a useful guide in most
cases. However, since love is the only thing that is good in and of itself, we may be compelled to
'set our principles aside and do the right thing.' The Church's viewpoint that abortion is wrong
but may be the "lesser of two evils" is consistent with a situationist perspective. Abortion may be
an act of love for a woman who has been raped.
Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethics is concerned with the kind of people we should be, it is usually more
difficult to implement. In other words, virtue ethicists consider justice to be a cardinal virtue.
Abortion is wrong if justice encompasses the fetus. In some countries, however, the fetus does
not have the same rights as a person, and justice does not treat them as such. The status of the
fetus influences your answer, as it does many ethical responses.

Summary

Our society is frequently divided between right and wrong, good and evil. The distinction
between the two, on the other hand, is not always obvious or can be taken lightly. With this
moral issue of “Are you in favor of the legalization of abortion in the Philippines?”, so whether
abortion should be legalized and, if so, under what circumstances. To legalize abortion is not
equivalent to forcing women to have it just because they can and are able to but rather it is a
choice and an option that is made available in order to ensure the safety of many women,
protecting their vulnerability to societal standards, and upholding moral and just obligations.
Considerations of abortion necessitate a thorough examination of the law, custom, social mores,
religious standards, familial circumstances, emotions, and relationships. I come up with these
three points to make and base on the answers and evaluation above. Firstly, it will lessen the rate
of crime or illegal acts. Secondly, the patient’s moral obligation vis a vis basic human right.
Third, abortion ethics is best understood in terms of moral praxis, since it entails a dialectical
interplay between rights and obligations, as well as between social, cultural, and particular
situations.