Essay on Judith Jarvis Thomson a Defense of Abortion

Judith Jarvis Thomson: A Defense of Abortion – CRITICAL EXPOSITION The goal of Judith Jarvis Thomson in her defense of abortion is to sway the ideas of those who are against abortion by challenging the arguments they give for thinking so. She begins by stating a premise. â€Å"For the sake of the argument† a human embryo is a person. This premise is one of the arguments most opponents of abortion use, but as she points out, isn’t much of an argument at all. These people spend a lot of their time dwelling on the fact that the fetus is a person and hardly any time explaining how the fetus being a person has anything to with abortion being impermissible. In the same breath, she states that those who agree with abortion spend a lot of their time†¦show more content†¦She believes that, just a like a woman having the right to choose to save her life, a third party should be able to choose if he/she want to assist. The next issue is, in Thomson’s opinion, the most important question in the abortion debate; that is, what exact ly does a right to life bring about? The premise that â€Å"everyone has a right to life, so the unborn person has a right to life† suggests that the right to life is â€Å"unproblematic,† or straight-forward. We know that isn’t true. Thomson gives an analogy involving Henry Fonda. You are sick and dying and the touch of Henry Fonda’s hand will heal you. Even if his touch with save your life, you have no right to be â€Å"given the touch of Henry Fonda’s cool hand.† A stricter view sees the right to life as more of a right to not be killed by anybody. Here too troubles arise. In the case of the violinist, if we are to â€Å"refrain from killing the violinist,† then we must basically allow him to kill you. This contradicts the stricter view. The conclusion Thomson draws from this analogy is â€Å"that having a right to life does not guarantee having either a right to be given the use of or a right to be allowed continued use of anot her person’s body—even if one needs it for life itself.† This argument again proves the basic argument wrong. The right to life isn’t as clear of an argument as I’m sure opponents of abortion would like it to be or believe it is. Similarly, the following analogyShow MoreRelatedA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Jarvis Thomson1549 Words   |  7 Pagesif she did not have an abortion. In such circumstances, the woman’s right to self-defence outweighs a fetus’ right to life, however I would not allow that the mother’s right outweighs the fetus’ if the mother wanted to have an abortion of convenience because this denies the child of possible future experiences. Firstly, I will outline Judith Jarvis Thomson’s argument for self-defence. In her article, ‘A Defense of Abortion’, Thomson provides an analogy in favour of abortion. She asks the reader toRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Jarvis Thomson934 Words   |  4 PagesJudith Jarvis Thomson is an American moral philosopher that is well known for her defense of moral justice and description of moral rights. She has published in prestigious papers in ethics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of law. Including the most widely written essay â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† , that was published in 1971 in the journal of philosophy and public affairs. This essay constructs abortion rights with pregnant woman’s rights to control her own body and it’s life support purpose, as opposedRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Jarvis Thomson951 Words   |  4 PagesIn Judith Jarvis Thomson’s A Defense of Abortion, Thomson explores the relationship betwe en the rights of a fetus and the rights of a human, in this case the mother. Thomson is an American moral philosopher and meta-physician. She is known for her defense of moral objectivity, her account of moral rights, her views about the incompleteness of the term good, and her use of thought experiments to make philosophical points. In the article, Thomson defends abortions in several certain circumstancesRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Jarvis Thomson921 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion is a major issue that has lead to many different opinions, ideas, and various debates. Proponents for abortion often use the fact that a fetus is not a moral person to justify their position, whereas those who are against the issue often claim that a fetus is a moral person and should deserve every right a moral person has, including the right to live. Judith Jarvis Thomson, however, takes an entirely different approach. In her article â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† Thomson argues tha t even ifRead MoreA Defense of Abortion by Judith Jarvis Thomson1354 Words   |  5 PagesJudith Jarvis Thomson proposes her argument in her article, A Defense of Abortion. There, she explains to her readers during what circumstances is abortion justifiable. Thomson uses the argument by analogy strategy to explain to her readers her argument. She tries to reach her conclusion by comparing it to similar cases. The point she is trying to make is to tell her readers that abortion is morally permissible only in some cases, like when the mother has been a victim of rape, when contraceptionRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Jarvis Thomson1302 Words   |  6 PagesJudith Jarvis Thomson argues in â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† that abortion in cases of rape is acceptable because of the element of coercion. She makes a preliminary assumption that the foetus has a right to life, but she argues that this right to life does not necessarily include the right not to be killed. She m akes this argument in large part through a particularly vivid analogy of an unconscious violinist. Thomson claims that the analogy defends abortion in cases of rape by showing that if a woman’sRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Jarvis Thomson1784 Words   |  8 Pages In Judith Jarvis Thomson’s essay â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† (1971), she defends the thesis that abortion is morally permissible. She argues that even if a fetus is a person, and possesses every right to life, that that in itself does not constitute the impermissibility of abortion. In this essay, I will defend and critique Thomson’s defense of abortion’s moral permissibility in light of apparent weaknesses that critics have pointed out. Thomson’s argues that abortion is morally permissible. She grantsRead More A Defense of Abortion by Judith Jarvis Thomson Essay1075 Words   |  5 PagesA Defense of Abortion by Judith Jarvis Thomson In the article A Defense of Abortion Judith Jarvis Thomson argues that abortion is morally permissible even if the fetus is considered a person. In this paper I will give a fairly detailed description of Thomson main arguments for abortion. In particular I will take a close look at her famous violinist argument. Following will be objections to the argumentative story focused on the reasoning that one persons right to life outweighs anotherRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Jarvis Thomson Summary1133 Words   |  5 PagesIn â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† written by Judith Jarvis Thomson, the author analyzes premises for which she believes that abortion should be permissible, but argues in some cases abortion should also not be allowed. Her analysis is different from most papers on this subject, because she immediately throws the argument of if the fetus is a person out the window. She calls it a â€Å"slippery slope argument†(Thomson 54). Thomson, instead, presents that a fetus does have the right to life, but she uses thoughtRead MoreSummary Of The Defense Of Abortion By Judith Jarvis Thomson1175 Words   |  5 Pages In her article, â€Å"The Defense of Abortion†, Judith Jarvis Thomson states an analogy involving a violinist. She first states that you are allowed to unplug yourself in the violinist scenario, second abortion after rape is analogous to the violinist scenario, therefore, you should be allowed to unplug yourself and be allowed to abort after rape (Chwang, Abortion slide 12). In this paper, I will argue that abortion is morally acceptable even if the fetus is considered a person. This paper will criticize

European Journal of Pharmacology

Questions: 1. In few sentence write the major conclusion of the experiments presented in figure 2?2. what is /are the potential biological impacts of the result in these manuscripts? justify your response/s?3. what did you find the most challenging or interesting in these papers? Answers: 1. Silymarin block cell cycle cascade in eukaryotic cells. Cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CDK-I) are used to arrest cell cycle progression. CDKI are of various types such as CDK-2, CDK-1, CDK-4/6. In this immunoprecipitation and western blotting techniques were used. Time dependent studies are conducted in this experiment. Silymarin showed inhibition of erbB1 and activation of SHC gene, which are associated with the alteration in cell cycle. Fig 2 showed a significant increase in protein level related to CDKI. Maximum up- regulation occur in fig. 2A and 2B at 24 hrs and after that there was no rise in protein level. In Fig. 2C 2E, no change in the protein levels of CDK2CDK6 at 75 g/ml for 48 hrs. There was no alteration in expression of cyclin E D1 up to 48 hrs at 75 g/ml, as they form complex with CDK in the cell cycle. Therefore cyclin are not supressed by silymarin. 2. In paper 6, silymarin decrease activity of cyclin D1 (responsible for activation of cyclin dependent kinase in cell cycle cascade) and degradation of cyclin D1 by threonine-286 phosphorylation. Silymarin showed inhibitory effect on proliferation of human colon cancer cell growth by 11%, 22% and 48% at conc. 50, 100 and 200 M. silymarin attenuated BAY11-7081 cancer cell line by 2.8 folds through activation of NF-KB inhibitor. In paper 4, silymarin act as potent drug in treatment of liver disease and primary liver cancer. It suppresses activation of tumor necrosis factor alpha, by decrease proliferation, angiogenesis and insulin resistance. Silymarin was given to 36 patients for 6 months and beneficial effect shown to increase in immune response of the body, serum fibrogen decreased and decreased in fibrogenesis. In paper 5, silymarin effectively reduced platelet activation and FeCl3 induced thrombosis. SYM at 100 and 300mg/Kg reduced expression of PGC-1/, FOXO1 and PPAR. 3. Interesting facts in these papers are Silymarin (SYM) found to be a potent drug in human colon cancer by augmented cyclin D1 in cell cycle cascade. It can reduce BAY11-7081 colon cancer cell growth by 2.8 folds by decreasing proliferation, angiogenesis and activation of NF-KB inhibitors. SYM found to be effective in the treatment of liver diseases and cancer related to the liver. Various clinical trials were performed which showed that SYM decrease tumor activation factor. SYM worked as an activator of CDKI to significantly increase in protein levels.

Writing for Charity

Writing is a special gift. It’s a gift that allows some of us to feed ourselves and our families. It’s a gift that keeps some of us out of a traditional work environment or brings in a second income. But the value of this gift doesn’t have to stop at providing for ourselves or those immediately under our care – we can use this gift for charitable purposes, too. Take, for example, the site Ukraine Orphans. This site features books by volunteers who have dedicated parts of their lives to helping this unfortunate group of children – some who need medical care, infant formula, or simply the world to know they are there, waiting for something better to come along. Proceeds of the books go into funds that help Ukraine orphans. Another example of how we, as writers, can use our skills to benefit others, can be found at Kiva.org. Kiva is a program that provides microloans to individuals in impoverished regions of the world. This organization needs volunteers who can translate, but these volunteers must also have proficiency in English. Sometimes, Kiva will also need volunteers to help edit business proposals. And they only ask for about 8 hours of volunteer time per month! We can also use our writing skills on a more personal level. Women for Women International and Children International both incorporate the act of letter writing into their sponsorship programs. More than money, with writing it is possible to give encouragement and hope to others. Locally, we can write to make our communities aware of projects or initiatives. We can volunteer to write newletters for organizations, animal shelters, or churches. We can use our skills to help others craft well-written grant proposals, not-for-profit websites, and advertisements.

How the Netherlands Reclaimed Land From the Sea

How the Netherlands Reclaimed Land From the Sea In 1986, the Netherlands proclaimed the new 12th province of Flevoland but they didnt carve out the province from already existing Dutch land nor did they annex the territory of their neighbors - Germany and Belgium. The Netherlands grew larger with the aid of dikes and polders, making the old Dutch adage While God created the Earth, the Dutch created the Netherlands come true. The Netherlands The independent country of the Netherlands only dates back to 1815, but the area and its people have a much longer history. Located in northern Europe, just northeast of Belgium and west of Germany, the Netherlands contains 280 miles (451 km) of coastline along the North Sea. It also contains the mouths of three important European rivers: the Rhine, Schelde, and Meuse. This translates into a long history of dealing with water and attempts to prevent massive, destructive flooding. The North Sea Floods The Dutch and their ancestors have been working to hold back and reclaim land from the North Sea for over 2000 years. Beginning around 400 BCE, the Frisians were first to settle the Netherlands. It was they who built terpen (an Old Frisian word meaning villages), which were earth mounds upon which they built houses or even entire villages. These terpen were built to protect the villages from flooding. (Although there were once thousands of these, there are about a thousand terpen that still exist in the Netherlands.) Small dikes were also built around this time, usually being rather short (about 27 inches or 70 cm high) and made of natural materials found around the local area. On December 14, 1287, the terpen and dikes that held back the North Sea failed, and water flooded the country. Known as the St. Lucias Flood, this flood killed over 50,000 people and is considered one of the worst floods in history. A result of the massive St. Lucias Flood was the creation of a new bay, called Zuiderzee (South Sea), formed by floodwaters that had inundated a large area of farmland. Pushing Back the North Sea For the next few centuries, the Dutch worked to slowly push back the water of the Zuiderzee, building dikes and creating polders (the term used to describe any piece of land reclaimed from water). Once dikes were built, canals and pumps were used to drain the land and to keep it dry. From the 1200s, windmills were used to pump excess water off the fertile soil becoming an icon of the country in the process. Today, however, most of the windmills have been replaced with electricity- and diesel-driven pumps. Reclaiming the Zuiderzee Then, storms and floods of 1916 provided the impetus for the Dutch to start a major project to reclaim the Zuiderzee. From 1927 to 1932, a 19 mile (30.5 km) long dike called Afsluitdijk (the Closing Dike) was built, turning the Zuiderzee into the IJsselmeer, a freshwater lake. On February 1, 1953, another devastating flood hit the Netherlands. Caused by a combination of a storm over the North Sea and spring tide, waves along the sea wall rose to 15 feet (4.5 m) higher than mean sea level. In some areas, the water peaked above existing dikes and spilled upon unsuspecting, sleeping towns. Just over 1,800 people in the Netherlands died, 72,000 people had to be evacuated, thousands of livestock died, and there was a huge amount of property damage. This devastation prompted the Dutch to pass the Delta Act in 1958, changing the structure and administration of the dikes in the Netherlands. This, in turn, created the collective known as the North Sea Protection Works, which included building a dam and barriers across the sea. There is no wonder that this huge engineering feat is now considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. Further protective dikes and works were built, beginning to reclaim the land of the IJsselmeer. The new land led to the creation of the new province of Flevoland from what had been sea and water for centuries. Much of the Netherlands Is Below Sea Level Today, approximately 27 percent of the Netherlands is actually below sea level. This area is home to over 60 percent of the countrys population of 15.8 million people. The Netherlands, which is approximately the size of the U.S. states Connecticut and Massachusetts combined, has an approximate average elevation of 36 feet (11 meters). This leaves a huge part of the Netherlands highly susceptible to flooding. Time will tell if the North Sea Protection Works are strong enough to protect it.

Freedom of Expression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Freedom of Expression - Essay Example The Alien and Sedition Acts are landmark policies that aimed to curtail the freedom of expression. The Alien Acts pertain to the status of naturalization of aliens, extending the required years of residence from five to fourteen years. They also include the legalization of actions against aliens, such as giving the President or his administrative assistants, the power to deport aliens who are deemed as threats to the government. The Sedition Act of 1798 made it a crime for any person to make â€Å"any false, scandalous, and malicious† statement about the U.S. government, Congress, or President (Werhan 12). The Congress opposed the Sedition Act. Republicans argue that the First Amendment does not give power for Congress to regulate the freedom of expression (Werhan 12). They also emphasize that it prevented citizens from getting the information they need to vote their officials in and out the office (Werhan 12). This movement expanded the freedom of expression to closely reflec t the goals of the First Amendment and to protect the freedom of speech in relation to criticisms against the government.The Alien and Sedition Acts are landmark policies that aimed to curtail the freedom of expression. The Alien Acts pertain to the status of naturalization of aliens, extending the required years of residence from five to fourteen years. They also include the legalization of actions against aliens, such as giving the President or his administrative assistants, the power to deport aliens who are deemed as threats to the government. The Sedition Act of 1798 made it a crime for any person to make â€Å"any false, scandalous, and malicious† statement about the U.S. government, Congress, or President (Werhan 12). The Congress opposed the Sedition Act. Republicans argue that the First Amendment does not give power for Congress to regulate the freedom of expression (Werhan 12). They also emphasize that it prevented citizens from getting the information they need to vote their officials in and out the office (Werhan 12). This movement expanded the freedom of expression to closely reflect the goals of the First Amendment and to protect the freedom of speech in relation to criticisms against the government. The abolitionists used the freedom of speech to fight for the â€Å"immediate end of slavery† (Werhan 15). They formed organizations, held public rallies and meetings, and even directly advocated slaveholders, by sending them antislavery publications (Werhan 15). The abolitionists attacked slavery in the national media because they believed that by doing so, they could make the abolition of slavery as the primary agenda of the government (Werhan 15). The Southern slave states fought back by banning anti-slavery speech (Werhan 15). When the abolitionist, Presbyterian minister Elijah P. Lovejoy was killed by a mob trying to burn his warehouse, where he protected free press, it further fueled the fire for freedom of expression (Werhan 16). His death highlighted the urgency of protecting the freedom of expression as a right of all citizens, so that they may be protected against the infringement of civil freedoms.

The theme of loneliness in Methamorphosis by Kafka and Boo Radley in Essay

The theme of loneliness in Methamorphosis by Kafka and Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird - Essay Example Both Lee and Camus demonstrate major societal conflict through their themes of loneliness as manifested in Boo and Meursault. Boo Radley is a recluse, a shy man who lives not far from the Finches but never ventures outdoors. A lot of mystery surrounds the actual facts of Boo Radley’s detachment from society and he becomes the subject of malicious rumors. One rumor has Boo Radley coming out in the dark of night and peering into neighbor’s windows. The rumors however are mere indications of society’s fear of the unknown and the low tolerance for those who do not meld or blend in with society. They become the objects of scorn and demonization. Meursault, like Boo is very much an outsider although he does physically blend in with society. Outwardly, Meurasult is an ordinary member of the community. He has an apartment, a job and a girlfriend. His detachment is founded on his mental and emotional distance. In one exchange with his girlfriend Marie, the reader understands the limits of Meursault’s ability to connect with another human being. Meursault is indifferent to his mother’s death and this indifference becomes problematic for him later on when he goes on trial for murder. Although the trial has a legitimate issue to try, Meursault is as much on trial for his non conformist attitude as he is for murder. It is Meursault’s departure from accepted norms that sets him apart as a loner and an outsider and this is why he like Boo is ultimately demonized by society. While the reader knows very little about Boo in the beginning chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird outside of rumors and myth, the reader is immediately introduced to Meursault’s indifference. The Outsider opens with the following observation by Meursault, the novel’s narrator: â€Å"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know. I got a telegram from the home: ‘Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.’ That doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it

A Variety of Society Factors Cause Homelessness Essay Example for Free

A Variety of Society Factors Cause Homelessness Essay National Coalition for the Homeless is a charity that fights to end the homelessness through grassroots organizing, public education, and policy advocacy. They have pointed out the causes for the increasing number of homeless people in the U.S since 2000 in the article â€Å"A Variety of Social Factors Causes Homelessness.† Why is the number of the homeless people increasing day after day in the U.S? Poverty and the homelessness are the current controversial problem that has so many different causes from different countries all over the world. There are three main factors that the National Coalition for the Homeless pointed out in their article such as eroding work opportunities, a decline in public assistance, and a lack of affordable housing in the U.S. Do the authors clearly explain the problem in their article? For an article to be effective, it is imperative that it is clear on its purpose. In the previous essay, the author is successful in identifying the principle behind the article. From the first paragraph, the author is focused on addressing the causes of homelessness in the society (National Coalition for the Homeless 1). Therefore, the reader is aware of the rationale behind the article and its functions after reading the first paragraph. Importantly, this is observable in the consequent paragraphs of the article. The heading choice is consistent with the purpose of the article. The key words in the heading depict that the author is exploring the issue of homelessness in the society. The topic depicts that there are numerous social factors that contribute to the issue of homelessness. This influences the mindset of the readers when they are engaging the article, since they are aware of the contents of the essay, which clarifies that homelessness is a result of complex social factors. This is instrumental in ensuring that the readers comprehend the contents of the article better. When exploring the problem in the article, the author focuses on the predicament of homelessness. In addition, the author uses relevant examples to highlight the problem in depth. This is evident in the statistical data in the third paragraph, which is relevant to the U.S. society: In 2000, 11.3% of the U.S. population, or 31.1 million people, lived in poverty. While the number of poor people has decreased a bit in recent years, the number of people living in extreme poverty has increased (National Coalition of Homelessness, paragraph 3, page 1). The author uses information on poverty levels, and current housing situations to explore the issue of homelessness comprehensively. The author is also clear on the causes of the previous problem. In the article, the author identifies poverty and lack of housing, which is affordable as the primary cause for homelessness in the society. These statistics from the Institute for Children and Poverty are particularly revealing: In the institute fo r Children and Poverty study, 37% of homelessness families had their welfare benefits reduced or cut last year. Additionally, a second study of six states found that between 1997 and 1998, 25% of families who had stopped receiving welfare in the last six months doubled-up on housing to save money, and 23% moved because they could not pay rent (National Coalition of Homelessness, page 2 – 3). However, other secondary causes are also highlighted in the article, and this includes lack of employment, low wages, and a decrease in social support, among others. The author correlates the secondary and primary causes to explore the problem. Despite the author actively highlighting the homelessness problem being experienced in the society, there is not solution provided for the problems. The author concentrates on the social factors which contribute to the problem and how they contribute. The essay is exhaustive when exploring the topic. The author uses numerous examples to explain the significance of the problem. For instance, the author explores the significance of the health sector in the issue of homelessness. This example gives a new dimension to the topic and shows the complexity of the social issues causing homelessness. In addition, the article is valid. This is due to the author’s use of authoritative sources in the field. This is evident in the statistical data, from studies by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on the previous problem. The author also engages credible and accurate information on the issue giving the article authority on the topic. The author uses relevant evidence to support the claims of the article. For instance, on this issue of poverty, the author quotes data of average incomes, which is earned by American families: In the data, a 1998 study estimated that 46% of the jobs with the most growth between 1994 and 2005 pay less than $16,000 a year; these jobs will not lift families out of poverty. Moreover, 74% of these jobs pay below a livable wage ($32,185 for a family of four) (National Coalition of Homelessness, page 2). This shows the level of income earned by the American population and its influence in the housing sector. The article also has other relevant examples to support the author’s sentiments. The argument of the author also appeals to the readers emotions. This is clear in the approach of the author to highlight the effect of poverty on society and its influence on homelessness. This elicits emotions from the audience since the issues affect are relatable to the human situation. The article is characterized by the use of data and studies from various authorities on the issue. The author has been effective in making the key words in these studies clear for the audience through elaboration. Therefore, the important words in the article are defined effectively. In the second article, Homelessness is not societys problem, the author uses a challenging title, in that the view is provocative to the addressees. This appears to be a controversial perspective concerning the issue of homelessness due to the emotions related to the topic (Carnacchio 1). Despite the rationale of the article, the argument is not valid since the society cannot disassociate itself from social problems. However, the second article gives for the readers more sides of view about the homeless people. Only some of the homeless people who are not willing to assume the responsibilities associated with maintaining a job and a permanent residence. As White points out, â€Å"In Los Angeles’ inner city, Paul Koegel and M. Audrey Burnam found that nearly 80% of alcoholics in their sample of homeless adults ‘reported that their first alcoholic symptom occurred before they were first homeless’ and that in 57% of the cases this occurred at least five years before their first episode of homelessness.† (Carnacchio, page 2). The article A Variety of Social Factors Causes Homelessness provides a solid argument concerning the issue of homelessness. The author appears to be conversant with the topic and cites authoritative sources on the issue. The topic is instrumental in highlighting the numerous social factors that contribute to homelessness in the American society. Furthermore, homelessness is still a serious problem which has so many different causes but the society have not had the solutions for this problem. From all information of the article, I have learned more knowledge about the causes of homelessness in the U.S. which is a well-developed country but it does exist the homelessness. The cause is not only from the society, but it is also among to all people who are living in this world assume the responsibility for their life and their families. Works Cited National Coalition for the Homeless. A Variety of Social Factors Causes Homelessness. Current Controversies: Poverty and the Homeless. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints Resources Center. Gale. Houston Community College. 18. Jan 2013. Carnacchio, C. J. Homelessness Is Not Societys Problem. Opposing Viewpoints: The Homeless. Ed. Jennifer A. Hurley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Houston Community College. 21. Jan 2013.