Understanding Abortion

This self-described 'fair and balanced' philosophical work by Schwarz (emer., Univ. of Rhode Island) presents the major classic moral arguments on abortion in hopes that 'each person will arrive at his own position.' Addressing pro-choice and pro-life rights arguments without appeal to religion, the book pits the pro-choice 'not-a-person' argument against the pro-life claim that being a person is different from functioning as a person. The author discusses fetal pain, and endorses 'the unity way' that emphasizes adoption and the harm that abortion does to women. ....Clearly presented, accessible, and useful for summarizing standard accounts of pro-life and pro-choice positions.... Summing Up: Recommended. * CHOICE *
Books about abortion rarely carefully engage the arguments of the two opponents in depth, strive to engage a broad range of such arguments, and manage to accomplish both feats in a way that is accessible to the educated non-specialist-this book does all three. By moving beyond the 'liberal/conservative' binary approach to abortion, Schwarz and Latimer shift the discussion in a way which better reflects the complex views of the American people on this, the most polarizing and misunderstood issue of our time. -- Charles Camosy, Fordham University
Understanding Abortion: From Mixed Feelings to Rational Thought by Stephen D. Schwarz, with Kiki Latimer, is framed as a fair and balanced discussion of the pro-life and pro-choice views in regards to abortion. * Metapsychology Online *