Abortion: How Morality Impacts on Human Decision? (Term Paper Sample)

Morality of Abortion
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1.0 Introduction
The issue of morality in humans is one that tends to divide people in terms of opinion. This division arises from the understanding of what exactly entails morality. Apparently, one action perceived as moral to one group is likely to be viewed otherwise by another. One such an issue that has attracted intense debate on the case of morality is abortion. In the past, some Supreme Court decisions have challenged the conventional understanding of morality when it comes to abortion. While it is easy to accuse one group of their positions, the issue of morality is somewhat precarious. Individuals that procure abortion argue on the basis of morality and pro-choice. Conversely, those opposed to abortion contest on the basis of pro-life. Besides elaborating how morality impacts the human decision, explaining pro-life and pro-choice positions, this paper describes the morality of abortion and when it could be termed as immoral.
2.0 Understanding morality
2.1 Morality in different context
From the onset, it is imperative to define morality to ensure there is no confusion on what it entails. Often, people start explaining morality from the side of what is wrong rather than what it is right. In short, morality is concerned with doing that which is right. Additionally, morality can be explained as an acted obligation or duty (Simpson, 2014). In all these explanations then, morality is universal as opposed to being local. It is equally important to note that morals differ with different cultures. For instance, in some cultures driver drive on the left side while in other countries it is the right side. In such context, the morals are relative. Nonetheless, some morals are universal irrespective of context and cultures. For instance, committing murder is universally immoral regardless of a country, religion or justifications.
2.2 Morality and absolute truth
Morality can also be understood using the absolute truth principles. An absolute truth refers to a fixed, unalterable, invariable or inflexible fact. This argument asserts that some facts cannot be changed at all since they are absolute (Furst, 2009). For instance, a square is not round-shaped, a bull cannot produce milk and so on. In the case of abortion, the absolute truth can be explained that if a mother seeks an abortion after a few months, a fetus is killed. In such a case, this action constitutes immorality because the action is universally wrong unless when done at a specialist’s advice.
2.3 Principles behind Morality
Behind morality lies a set of principles of conduct and values individuals, institutions, and societies hold. Sometimes, these values and principles are not necessarily shared similarly with other societies. For instance, one particular group might argue that practicing certain habits tantamount to moral decay while another argues otherwise. In such a case, morality can be traced back to beliefs. Also, morality can also arise from one’s set of principles, and this can be demonstrated through decisions undertaken as well as interpretations of varied situations (Simpson, 2014). Therefore, morality is derived that which is widely accepted coupled with individual values and social norms. That is why the Roe v. Wade case was not unanimous in decision making. The interpretation of the constitution was different, yet the issue at hand was one.
2.4 Morality Influenced By Happiness
Morality, also, has to do with doing that which increases happiness, satisfaction and long-term success as opposed to short-term gratification. For instance, in a study that sought to analyze how individuals prioritized competence, sociability, and morality, the results bent toward morality. Apparently, the respondents indicated that they place more importance on morality than sociability and competence (Leach, Ellemers & Barreto, 2007). In another discussion, people value morality as it is thought to have rewards in this life even without invoking any religious teachings. Hence, abortion can then be analyzed on its aftermath ramifications, if any, as opposed to its immediate reaction. In other words, answering the question of whether a woman finds satisfaction after the procedure would help in underlining what morality entails.
2.5 What morality is not
In understanding what morality entails, it is important to comprehend what it is not. Often, individuals and groups impose their beliefs on others claiming them to be morals. However, Domingo (2014) argued that morality does not consist of religious or personal beliefs and values. It is for this reason that religious groups fail to convince the political class on the issue of abortion. Many groups argue from religious beliefs. For instance, many groups do not argue on the precise morality of abortion but on the basis of killing a fetus. However, a fetus is never formed until after a few weeks, thus nullifying this argument. Morality is not compelling others to adhere to one’s beliefs and moral code. Rather, morality has to do with what is universally acceptable.
3.0 Morality’s impact on human decision
The decisions humans engage in are significantly influenced by morality more than by anything else. This assertion has been proved countless times even in the confines of courts of law. For instance, this point was evidently confirmed in the Griswold v. Connecticut (1965). In this case, Griswold and Le Buxton were charged with contravening the 1879 Comstock Act that prevented any issuance or assistance of contraceptives. Apparently, the two directors of the Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut had helped married couples acquire contraceptives. This action was in direct contravention of the Act that banned the use of contraceptives (Bailey, 2010). Also, the law extended to anybody that counseled, assisted, caused or abetted in committing the supposed crime, and the offenders would either receive a maximum one-year sentence, fine or both.
In the subsequent court case, the two directors were fined $100 each, but the duo appealed to the Supreme Court of Errors of Connecticut. However, the appeal did not result in a different ruling as the court in Connecticut upheld the earlier decision. Still not satisfied, the two appealed to the US Supreme Court with claims that the conviction was a violation of the US constitution. In the subsequent review that occurred in 1965, the court ruled in a 7-2 decision in the favor of the directors. The findings were that the law had severely violated the constitution’s right to marital privacy. As such, this law was not applicable to the married, and that right to privacy as provided for in the constitution could not be infringed (Bailey, 2010). Despite this majority vote, two of the court’s judges did not agree with the ruling.
3.1 Analysis
3.1.1 Morality and Norms
The case above presents valuable lessons concerning morality and human decisions. Evidently, morality impacts the human decision in various ways. For instance, the seven justices that overruled the decision by the other courts may have been influenced more by morality than by the law. Whereas the argument was supposedly based on the country’s constitution, the judges made a moral decision. To the judges, it was immoral for any other law to interfere with that which was commonly and widely accepted as an institution of marriage. In fact, in the ruling, the court’s Justice William Douglas noted that observing the law would not be possible "without violating those fundamental principles of liberty and justice" (Casillas, Enns & Wohlfarth, 2010 p.77). In its ruling, the court made a decision influenced more by social norms than anything else.
3.1.2 Morality influences perception, hence decision.
Despite the majority overruling the earlier decision by the other courts, the Supreme Court ruling was not unanimous. Two justices disagreed with the ruling, confirming how morality influences the human decision. For instance, Justice Arthur Goldberg contested that the Bill of Rights in the Ninth Amendment explains that other laws are not to be rendered ineffective in the pursuance of the right to privacy (Casillas et al., 2010). Even though the law might influence this position in the constitution, the individual is not absolutely reasoning from a legal perspective. Rather, Furst (2009) asserted that their morality is always the first driver of a position, and the legal stance is only a confirmation of their moral standing. Essentially, morality impacts the human decision in the sense that individuals focus on that which appears to be right thing to do.
4.0 Morality of Abortion
Upon understanding that morality does indeed influence human decisions, it is important to analyze the morality of abortion. In the Roe v. Wade, the morality of abortion was tested. In this case, Roe was a Texas resident who intended to terminate a pregnancy through abortion. Conversely, the Texas laws prohibited such actions unless done to save a pregnant mother’s life. In this case, there was no evidence that Roe had any complications that warranted the procuring of abortion. The Supreme Court (SC) had to address the question of whether the US Constitution provided for a woman’s right to abortion. In a 7-2 ruling, the SC held that every woman’s right to abortion "fell within the right to privacy”. In reaching this decision, the court cited Eisenstadt v. Baird and Griswold v. Connecticut case and argued that it was provided for in the fourteenth amendment (Casillas et al., 2010).
4.1 Morality vs Right
In this case, the court argued that a state cannot compel a woman in matters that are fundamentally within their right to privacy. The ruling established that if a womanâ€&...