In this section, you’ll want to explore the various personal and communal ethical factors that contribute to the differing moral positions on abortion

QUESTION

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapters 9, 10 (The Elements of Moral Philosophy Authors: James Rachels, Stuart Rachels

Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill Education)

• Minimum of 5 scholarly sources (in addition to the textbook)

Instructions

topic chosen Abortion

• Answer this question: What are the personal and/or communal ethical factors that may be involved in determining the moral position of either side in that debate?
• Next, articulate and then evaluate the ethical positions  using Kantian ethics (that is, the categorical imperative) relative to the long standing debate (that is your topic chosen in the week three assignment).
• Finally, create a complete annotated bibliography for 5 academic scholarly sources  (within 5years). You will annotate each source. The sources should be relevant to your topic chosen.

Include the following:

• Publication details
• Annotation (a detailed reading of the source)

Each annotation section should include the following:

• Summarize key points and identify key terms (using quotation marks, and citing a page in parentheses).
• Describe the controversies or “problems” raised by the articles.
• State whether you agree or disagree and give reasons.
• Locate one or two quotations to be used in the final research project.
• Evaluate the ways in which this article is important and has helped you focus your understanding.

Use the following as a model:

APA Reference
Mezirow, J. (2003). Transformative learning as discourse. Journal of Transformative Education, 1(1), 58-63.

Annotation Example
In this article, Mezirow (2003) makes a distinction between “instrumental” and “communicative” learning. “Instrumental learning” refers to those processes which measure and gauge learning, such as tests, grades, comments, quizzes, attendance records and the like. “Communicative learning,” on the other hand, refers to understanding created over time between individuals in what Mezirow calls “critical-dialectical-discourse,” (p. 59) which is a fancy way of saying, important conversation between 2 or more speakers. Another key idea Mezirow discusses is “transformative learning,” (p. 61) which changes the mind, the heart, the values and beliefs of people so that they may act better in the world. Mezirow argues that “hungry, desperate, homeless, sick, destitute, and intimidated people obviously cannot participate fully and freely in discourse” (p. 59). On the one hand, he is right: there are some people who cannot fully engage because their crisis is so long and deep, they are prevented. But, I don’t think Mezirow should make the blanket assumption that everyone in unfortunate circumstances is incapable of entering the discourse meaningfully. One thing is certain: if we gave as much attention to the non-instrumental forms of intelligence–like goodness, compassion, forgiveness, wonder, self-motivation, creativity, humor, love, and other non-measured forms of intelligence in our school curriculums, we’d see better people, actors in the world, and interested investigators than we currently have graduating high school.

Requirements

• Length: 4-7 pages (not including title page or references page)

ANSWER

Personal and Communal Ethical Factors in the Abortion Debate

In this section, you’ll want to explore the various personal and communal ethical factors that contribute to the differing moral positions on abortion. Consider factors like religious beliefs, cultural norms, individual autonomy, women’s rights, the value of potential life, and the role of society in decision-making.

Kantian Ethics and the Abortion Debate

Kantian ethics, based on the categorical imperative, focuses on moral duties and the universality of moral principles. In the context of the abortion debate, you can discuss how Kantian ethics would approach the issue. Kantians might argue that the moral status of a fetus grants it certain rights and that abortion could be seen as a violation of the duty to respect the inherent worth and dignity of all rational beings. You can also discuss the conflicts between autonomy and duty in Kantian ethics when applied to abortion.

Annotated Bibliography (5 Scholarly Sources)

Here’s a general template for annotating each source in your bibliography:

APA Reference

Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page numbers. DOI/URL (if available).

Annotation Example

In this article, [Author(s) and Year] investigate [summarize key points and identify key terms using quotation marks and page numbers]. The main controversy highlighted by the article is [describe the problems or controversies raised by the article]. I find myself agreeing/disagreeing with the author’s perspective because [provide reasons for agreement or disagreement]. One quotation that stood out is [include a relevant quotation for later use in your research project]. This article is important as it [evaluate the significance of the article in helping you focus your understanding].

Remember, the annotations should provide a concise summary of the source’s key points, highlight any controversies or problems discussed, express your agreement or disagreement with the author’s perspective, and explain the article’s importance in shaping your understanding of the topic.

Feel free to provide me with specific details from the resources you’ve mentioned, and I can help you create annotated bibliography entries based on the provided template.