Introduction
Utilitarianism is a doctrinal approach based on ethics and moral values of people as well as their actions, which are singly influenced by the contribution to overall utility; it is thus based on consequentialism that the value of morals and actions is determined by the results (Woods 67). On the issues of abortion, many people, theories, and organizations present varied views. The paper will concentrate on the stand of utilitarianism on the matter. Utilitarianism, after finding out that various arguments on whether a fetus is a person and whether a human is supposed to determine what can take place in their bodies are an instance of lack of intuition (Woods 67).
In utilitarianism, an overall prescription on either for or against reproduction is difficult to justify because each of the stances would have its own specific justifications. In this case, if a utilitarian finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy, then she should procure an abortion. If a utility is in favor of her reproduction, then the conclusion would have been that she was attempting to get pregnant (Woods 68). Hence, pregnancy was not accidental. If, after evaluation, a utility is against her production, she should go ahead and procure an abortion. The issue of personal desires shifting should not be given a chance to prejudice the decision to get an abortion.
Ideally, in the current world, the utilitarian should not be individually concerned with the matters of abortion as it is a non-issue because many other issues outweigh it in terms of their seriousness. Utilitarianism does not prescribe or prohibit the issue of abortion as it subscribes to the moral values of the person (Woods 67). It means that abortion is useful to a particular person and may also be the wrong choice for another person. Utilitarianism allows a person to choose their values and actions accordingly, depending on the knowledge they have about the matter.
Bentham's Felicific Calculus is an algorithm designed by Jeremy Bentham, a utilitarian to allow people to weigh the level of pain and pleasure that a human being may experience due to taking specific actions in life (Dardenne 10). In this model, everyone should be able to weigh or calculate the effect of the actions that they want to take to their happiness or their pain. On the matters of abortion are pivoted on likely causing future joy of having a child versus the pain or pleasure of the mother, including any other person who is related to her and who can be affected by the decision of such woman to procure an abortion (Dardenne 10). For instance, a hedonistic utilitarian might foresee a future of a disabled child who remains in pain due to disability; hence, an integral decision of aborting the fetus and replacing it with another one which will grow well and be happier in future after birth.
Taking action like this requires the mother to weigh between the pleasure or pain not just during and after delivering but also in her psychological wellbeing should the child be unwanted. Therefore, Bentham’s Felicific Calculus allows a human to consider the benefits of procuring an abortion versus not acquiring one. It, therefore, means that this model does not encourage neither does it advocate for abortion (Dardenne 10). It requires the involved persons to consider not only the current pleasure or pain but even in the future.
Conclusion
Overall, abortion is not discouraged by the utilitarianism approach, and neither is it encouraged. Similarly, Bentham's Felicific Calculus does not discourage either does it encourage abortion. It supports the people to calculate the benefits of the action; thus, if procuring an abortion makes the mother and other people around her feel fine then, she can go ahead to acquire. On the other hand, utilitarian model allows the person to make sound decisions depending on their moral conviction and values.
