Virtue theory and abortion

Abstract

Virtue theory is laid out in a framework that reveals the essential similarities and differences between it and deontological and utilitarian theories, revealing that many criticisms standardly made of it are misplaced. A major criticism - that it cannot get us anywhere - is rejected on the grounds that a normative theory which reaches practical conclusions that are not determined by premises about what is truly worthwhile or serious is guaranteed to be inadequate. This issue, concerning what sorts of concepts an adequate normative theory must contain, is highlighted by illustrating how virtue theory directs one to think about the problem of abortion.