The Moral and Legal Status of Abortion

Abstract

The debate over abortion is one of the most contentious ethical and legal dilemmas in contemporary society. This paper explores the relationship between law and morality and how they intersect in the discourse on abortion. While law is an externally regulated system enforced by the state, morality is an internally guided concept shaped by societal beliefs. This distinction becomes crucial in assessing the ethical and legal standing of abortion. The paper examines historical and contemporary perspectives on abortion, the arguments presented by pro-life and pro-choice advocates, and the philosophical definitions of personhood. Various ethical theories, including those of Daniel Callahan, Michael Tooley, Judith A. Boss, Mary Anne Warren, and Christopher D. Stone, are discussed to provide a comprehensive analysis of abortion’s moral and legal status. The paper concludes that the debate remains highly polarized, drawing from broader discussions on human rights, bodily autonomy, and bioethics.