Abortion

At a coffe-house near the United States Supreme Court, a male lawyer (‘pro-choice’), a female pediatrician (‘pro-life’), and a moderator who calls himself a ‘proselytising agnostic’ embark on an extensive exploration of issues central to the abortion debate. Vigorously demonstrating the relevance of reasoning to important moral problems, the participants resist the temptations of strident emotional appeal in an effort to present the most honourable and intellectually sophisticated sides to their arguments. This effort leads them to consideration of antebellum slavery, to a comparison of the notions of absolute truth in ethics versus mathematics, and to constructive discussions of genetics, artificial intelligence, euthanasia, personal identity, human sexuality, and Roe v Wade. A perfect primer or literary supplement for courses involving topical ethics, and a potent stimulant for classroom discussion.