No matter your position on the issue, abortion is a hotly debated topic in today's society. In this essay, I will examine both sides of the abortion issue. I will begin with a brief overview of the abortion debate, to include the morality of the situation. Next, I will discuss the pro-life argument. Finally, I will look at the Pro-Choice view. Ultimately, I will show how utilitarianism, altruism, and situational ethical views apply to abortion. Bearing in mind the extreme controversy surrounding this issue, I will examine the history of abortion and why it is the subject of so much debate today. The moral problem with abortion is when, if ever, is abortion morally justifiable? The answer to this question lies somewhere between one of three points of view. First, the conservative view is that abortion is never justifiable. Then liberals would say that abortion is always justifiable. Finally, the moderate view holds that some, but not all, reasons provide adequate justification. Abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2010). In order to defend either side of this argument, one must decide the ontological status of the fetus. When does the fetus become a biological human being? There are a number of positions that define the being or exultation of a fetus. Conservatives would say it's at the time of conception, unlike liberals who would say a fetus never reaches that status, while moderates would say somewhere in between. The next question we must consider is the moral status of the fetus; Does this fetus have rights, and if so, what are they? If a fetus has no rights, abortion with...... middle of paper......I don't expect to influence you one way or another, just to present information for an informed decision. Whether true or false, abortion is an ethical and emotionally charged topic in which the “truth” is continually open to debate. (2010). In the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved March 20, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abortionBlackmun, HA (1973, January 22). FindLaw. Retrieved March 18, 2010 from http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=410&invol=113Marquis, D. (1989, April). JUST. Retrieved March 18, 2010 from JUSTOR: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2026961 Thompson, JJ (1971, Fall). JUST. Retrieved March 18, 2010 from Philosophy and Public Affairs. : http://www.jstor.org/stable/2265091Thomson, Mel. Teach yourself ethics, 3rd ed. Columbus, Ohio: McGraw-Hill Publishers, 2006.