Ethical principles at the beginning of life

Abstract

If there is no morally significant dividing line in the development of the fetus, then we can either upgrade the fetus and treat it in the same way as other members of our species that have been born (the conservative view) or downgrade other members of our species and treat them as we treat fetuses. The choice is not determined by the lack of a significant dividing line in the development of the fetus. The point that both views have in common is that they are not considering the actual status of the fetus but are taking it to have the same status as any other human being. Other views, such as the ‘person’ view, invite us to consider the actual status of the fetus. In this paper it is argued that both the actual status of the fetus and its membership of die class of ‘persons’ is important. However, like the first views, this view needs to be coupled with other views before we can arrive at a conclusions about ethical problems such as abortion and embryo research. It is argued that this view, combined with a deontological approach, will suggest certain solutions to these problems.