The Problem with Sandra

Milford, Stephen R.

doi:10.1163/15743012-02703004

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…In particular, it is possible that such an eccentric conception might lead to an unhealthy relativity rooted in a never-ending regression whereby persons, create persons who create persons. We have discussed relational anthropology in depth elsewhere, including the objections of unending relativity (Milford 2018 , 2019 , 2020 ). We leave those discussions for now and take it at face value that personhood speaks primarily to the types of relationships certain beings have with each other, rather than a substantive ontological reality.…”

Section: Relational Persons Not Conscious Great Apesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relating to foetal persons: why women’s Voices come first and last, but not alone in Abortion debates

Milford

2023

Med Health Care and Philos

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Abortion remains a controversial topic, with pro-life and pro-choice advocates clashing fiercely. However, public polling demonstrates that the vast majority of the Western public holds a middle position: being in favour of abortion but not in all circumstances nor at any time. The intuitions held by the majority seem to imply a contradiction: two early foetuses at the same point in development have different moral statuses. Providing coherent philosophical grounding for this intuition has proved challenging. Solutions given by philosophers such as Feinberg, Harman and Räsänen are complex and do not fully account for the lived experience of pregnancy loss. This article argues for a relational ontological construction of human personhood as the basis of foetal personhood. This approach takes seriously the literature of pregnancy loss and the lived experiences of pregnant persons. Focusing on the manner in which persons relate to early foetuses (especially pregnant persons), provides a coherent ground for distinct foetal value. Importantly, this approach is both simple and intuitive. Therefore, it can be more easily adopted by middle. To counter an implied equality of human relationality, the article argues for a clear hierarchy based on relational proximity that affirms pregnant persons? primary role in deciding the moral significance of foetal termination.

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Section: Relational Persons Not Conscious Great Apesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relating to foetal persons: why women’s Voices come first and last, but not alone in Abortion debates

Milford

2023

Med Health Care and Philos

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Schrödinger’s Fetus and Relational Ontology: Reconciling Three Contradictory Intuitions in Abortion Debates

Milford,

Shaw

2023

Ethic Theory Moral Prac

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Pro-life and pro-choice advocates battle for rational dominance in abortion debates. Yet, public polling (and general legal opinion) demonstrates the public’s preference for the middle ground: that abortions are acceptable in certain circumstances and during early pregnancy. Implicit in this, are two contradictory intuitions: (1) that we were all early fetuses, and (2) abortion kills no one. To hold these positions together, Harman and Räsänen have argued for the Actual Future Principle (AFP) which distinguishes between fetuses that will develop into persons and those that will never develop into persons. However intellectually ingenious their solutions are, they fail to account for a third intuition: that the death of a wanted fetus – e.g. through termination or miscarriage – is of moral significance. Not only is this practically important, but it is also supported by public opinion. The authors of this paper argue that relational ontology can modify the AFP to better account for all three intuitions. Furthermore, it further emphasizes the pivotal role of the pregnant person who relates to their own fetus in either personal or impersonal ways. Addressing the fundamental challenges of relational ontology, the authors defend the position that human personal identity is ultimately relational.

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The Problem with Sandra

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Relating to foetal persons: why women’s Voices come first and last, but not alone in Abortion debates

Relating to foetal persons: why women’s Voices come first and last, but not alone in Abortion debates

Schrödinger’s Fetus and Relational Ontology: Reconciling Three Contradictory Intuitions in Abortion Debates

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