CAPSTONE ESSAY (Essay Sample)

INSTITUTION NAME Egoism and Abortion Course number and name by Student’s Name Date Submitted Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc119069271 \h 2Egoism Ethical Theory PAGEREF _Toc119069272 \h 2Abortion PAGEREF _Toc119069273 \h 5Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc119069274 \h 8 Introduction Abortion is an ethical issue that causes significant arguments in society, with supporters on both sides. The main question the paper will answer will be, “Is it moral and acceptable to have an abortion?” In this paper, I attempt to justify the need to allow abortion based on the egoism ethical theory. The egoism theory asserts that a person should act in self-interest when facing a moral dilemma. The paper will discuss the issue in two stages. First, I will describe the egoism ethical theory, which emphasizes the value of personal welfare. Second, I will apply the metaethical theory to justify the person’s right to have an abortion. The essay vindicates the morality of abortion using the egoism ethical theory thus supporting abortion to be conducted if a pregnant person feels socially, economically, or health-wise threatened by a pregnancy despite the thoughts of other members of society. Egoism Ethical Theory This section will explain that egoism ethical theory is appropriate for dealing with societal moral and ethical dilemmas. The theory has two approaches, namely descriptive and normative approaches. The descriptive approach describes people’s actions when they face a moral dilemma with one objective: improving their welfare and wellness. The normative approach of egoism theory defines what people ought to do when they face a moral dilemma. Rather than describing a person’s actions, it guides one on actions they should choose to solve the moral dilemma and maximize their self-interest. Being different from other ethical theories, for example, the Kantian and utilitarianism theories, it emphasizes a person’s need to put themselves before all else when solving a moral dilemma. Kantian and Utilitarianism ethical theories focus on maximizing others’ welfare, which might lead to self-deprivation by ignoring individuals' personal needs and well-being.[Šumanović-Glamuzina, Darinka, Marjana Jerković-Raguž, and Jerko Brzica. "Child protection-humanistic or egoistic orientation." Psychiatria Danubina 32, no. suppl. 2 (2020): 302-304.] [Šumanović-Glamuzina, Darinka, Marjana Jerković-Raguž, and Jerko Brzica. "Child protection-humanistic or egoistic orientation." Psychiatria Danubina 32, no. suppl. 2 (2020): 302-304.] [Šumanović-Glamuzina, Darinka, Marjana Jerković-Raguž, and Jerko Brzica. "Child protection-humanistic or egoistic orientation." Psychiatria Danubina 32, no. suppl. 2 (2020): 302-304.] Promoting one’s welfare does not necessarily harm other people’s interests when a person makes a moral decision. The intention of an ethical egoist in selecting a decision is based on increasing their self-welfare rather than harming others. For instance, when a person decides not to chase an armed thief, they make the decision to protect themselves from any harm that might occur due to the chase, for example, being shot, encountering law enforcement officers, and the possibility of developing a stampede. Such a decision does not harm the mob running after an armed thief. Nevertheless, it does not exclude harm to others at all times. For instance, when a person kills an armed robber that attacks them at their house, they do so in self-defense. The motivation behind the decision is solely based on self-interest and not harming the armed robber. It might be difficult to understand the concept, but ethical egoists make moral decisions primarily based on the need to improve their self-interest and welfare despite the repercussions of such decisions. In such a manner, ethical egoists do not intend to harm others in their decision-making process but rather strive to protect themselves and improve their welfare. Egoism is essential in self-development. Acting in self-interest allows people to consider actions and decisions with positive outcomes. Other ethical theories, including utilitarianism, disregard a person’s welfare and self-growth. This approach might improve society’s welfare but might affect the person’s welfare. Ethical egoists can improve their welfare by making decisions based on their self-interest, which is essential in self-development. Furthermore, it allows people to focus on the long-term implications as much as they focus on the short-term effects of their goals. For instance, eating high-calorie and junk food might be exciting and delicious. However, such meals harm a person’s health in the long run. Therefore, egoists would refrain from such a diet to protect their health without overlooking the food's short-term and long-term effects. It indicates that although others may care for a person, the surest way is caring for own self. Naturally, humans want to have their needs fulfilled with all the energy they have. It is illustrated by the world’s capitalism, in which every person cares for themselves. Every person knows their desires in the short and long run. Others can only assume what a person desires. Consequently, people’s efforts in fulfilling others' desires are largely ineffective. In other words, people can meet their self-interest better than others ever would.[Šumanović-Glamuzina, Darinka, Marjana Jerković-Raguž, and Jerko Brzica. "Child protection-humanistic or egoistic orientation." Psychiatria Danubina 32, no. suppl. 2 (2020): 302-304.] The egoism ethical theory counters the altruism concept. Although it might be considered an immoral indulgence, it might also cause harm to a person. For instance, a person might have a piece of sandwich and another hungry person. Giving food to another person is considered altruism but would cause the person to feel hungry. Ethical egoists suggest that every person is responsible for themselves when solving problems. Egoism eliminates the altruistic need to look good in other people’s eyes since this desire might result in losing one’s personality. It eliminates the time and needs to focus on own self, which should not be the case. Furthermore, since only a person knows the challenges they face and the sacrifices they make, it is more effective to make such sacrifices for oneself to solve challenges society would not be ready to solve but rather wait to judge one’s method of solving them.[Šumanović-Glamuzina, Darinka, Marjana Jerković-Raguž, and Jerko Brzica. "Child protection-humanistic or egoistic orientation." Psychiatria Danubina 32, no. suppl. 2 (2020): 302-304.] Ethical egoism supports the need to promote one’s self-interest but is deeply rooted in morality. It recognizes the need for control as people learn and grow. An agent in pursuit of self-interest promotes their own good. Notably, one’s own good might differ from another person's own good, which makes it difficult to decide the good that society should follow. Egoism solves the issues by suggesting that each person can follow their own good concurrently thus promoting their welfare that has an overall positive effect on society. Critics have indicated that egoism leads to Darwinian struggle when conflicts emerge due to personal differences. For instance, when two people in a jungle find one inexhaustible water source, they might decide to share the water or fight for the water. Logically, the two people would share the water as rational egoism dictates and benefit even when pursuing their self-interest. It differs from the critics. An argument of the conflict is insoluble without a victory for one party and a loss for the other. However, cooperation would effectively solve such conflicts and promote the welfare of both parties. Furthermore, critics argue that if a person reaches out to the resource first, they may own it and thus prevent the second party from accessing it. However, it led to the rise of trade based on economic and charitable considerations, which made the two parties share the resource. Therefore, although the critics have argued about the insoluble conflicts arising from egoism, the conflicts are easily solved and increase the self-interest of both parties without harming any of them.[Anderson, Nathaniel. "Egoism and the Repugnant Conclusion." (2019).] Abortion Abortion is an issue of applied ethics . It is the process of terminating a pregnancy before childbirth. The issue of abortion is a moral dilemma in society. Proponents and opponents use different arguments. However, this essay uses the egoism ethical theory to support the person’s right to have an abortion. The main reasons for conducting an abortion are health complications for the mother, the lack of preparedness, conceiving after a rape, a difficult pregnancy, and the possibility of delivering a baby with defects or disability. Abortion critics focus on the negative implications of abortion and explain why it should not be conducted under any circumstances. However, they forget to consider the effects of no abortion on a mother. According to ethical egoists, one should act in their own best interest. Therefore, pregnancy should be aborted if a mother or a couple has valid reasons. It is crucial to recognize that valid reasons are socially constructed and vary from one mother or couple to another. In other words, they are not similar. Criticizing abortion without being in the position is unfair and unjust because one does not feel the pressure of implications of such a pregnancy.[Lanphier, Elizabeth. "Abortion and the Intersection of Ethics, Activism, and Politics." The American Journal of Bioethics 22, no. 8 (2022): 72-74] The validity of egoism in supporting abortion can be proved by different examples. For instance, if a person is raped and conce...