A Kantian Ethical Evaluation of Abortion

The question of abortion is a legal and moral issue that has sparked several debates from the pro-choice and pro-life. This paper explores the different debates on abortion while incorporating the ontology of a person from the Yoruba perspective, a culturally grounded perspective often overlooked in the discourse of abortion. This paper further analyzes these debates with the lens of Immanuel Kant’s conception of a person and his ethical principles. The major arguments regarding abortion boil down to the woman’s autonomy; her right to choose what she wants to do with her body and the moral significance of the fetus. However, Immanuel Kant’s ethics provides a thoughtful balanced framework that protects the woman’s autonomy and the moral significance of the fetus.