Question

Is the case of the famous violinist really analogous to a case of pregnancy caused by rape?

https://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil160,Fall02/thomson.htm

Answer 1

In my opinion, I don't find the case as the right analogy for pregnancy caused by rape. Here are some of the points on why I think that way:

• The case limits itself to inducing feelings caused by forced pregnancy or pregnancy due to rape as one might call it and nothing more.
• The factual plotline of connecting the two bodies with plugging of the circulatory system is biologically analogous to the circulatory systems of the fetus and the mother. However, in this case, the violinist is a completely different human being to whom the mother cannot connect to. He is not physically in her womb. Hence, the embodiment of the situation is something that the argument lacks.
• The argument about how the mother can decide what goes on with her body is completely right. However, the analogy provides that her kidneys are used to extract "poison" from the violinist. This is unethical because it is also detrimental to the health of the mother. This is not always the case when the fetus is growing in one's body. It's not detrimental given the health of the mother and the care is taken in terms of nutrition and exercise.

Please note: I am not posing my side of the argument here, rather I am trying to show how the analogy is faulty.