A Kantian would never allow abortion. Discuss.

Pojman suggests that some actions may be allowed through Kant’s theory if worded slightly differently. For example, suicide would not be allowed as it is not able to be universalised, but if the principle was reworded to ‘whenever the pain or suffering of existence erodes quality of life is such a way as to make nonexistence a preference to suffering existence, one is permitted to commit suicide’ then it could potentially be universalised and could become a categorical imperative. If this is true of suicide, then who is to say that it is not also true of abortion? For example, if the foetus is not yet considered to be a person, then abortion is justified. If the foetus is not a person, then it may not be considered to have a soul and sanctity of life and therefore does not necessarily have a right to life. In this instance, if abortion was reworded slightly, it could potentially be allowed by a Kantian. In contrast, some people would argue that Kant never intended for his theory to be manipulated in this way to such a degree and consequentially would never allow abortion according to Kant’s theory.

Furthermore, Kant says that humans should always be treated as ends in themselves and not as a means to an end. Kant argued that people and foetuses have intrinsic value and not instrumental value – they cannot be disposed of for the benefits of others. Therefore, according to this categorical imperative, abortion is morally wrong in all circumstances. However, this is only true if we consider the foetus to be a person. Kant did not make it clear whether he regarded a foetus to have personhood, but he did distinguish between three types of beings: people - rational agents, people with partial rights – people who lack rights e.g. children, mentally disabled and things – animals, plants and things which can be treated as a means to an end. Kant did not make it clear where he classified foetuses. If they are classified as things, Kantians might justify abortion on the basis that they can be treated as a means to an end.

In conclusion, I feel that a Kantian may allow abortion if it was seen to be following the categorical imperative ‘to help others’.