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Original research
Human equality arguments against abortion
  1. Calum Miller
  1. St Benet's Hall, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Calum Miller, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3LN, UK; c.miller{at}oxon.org

Abstract

In this paper, I argue that a commitment to a very modest form of egalitarianism—equality between non-disabled human adults—implies fetal personhood. Since the most plausible bases for human value are in being human, or in a gradated property, and since the latter of which implies an inequality between non-disabled adult humans, I conclude that the most plausible basis for human equality is in being human—an attribute which fetuses have.

  • Abortion - Induced
  • Disabled Persons
  • Embryos and Fetuses
  • Moral Status
  • Persons

Data availability statement

Data sharing not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study.

https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2022-108572

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    Data availability statement

    Data sharing not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study.

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors CM takes sole responsibility for the content of this article as guarantor.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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