Interests in Abortion

This title was first published 2000:  Ever since Michael Tooley published his article on "Abortion and Infanticide" in 1972, the abortion debate has revolved around questions such as: "What is a person?"; "What is it that gives persons the right to life?"; and "Is it wrong to kill potential persons?" This study defends a position that accepts elements from both the liberal and conservative tradition. Following Tooley, Tracie Martin understands personhood in terms of psychological states and agrees that early foetuses who lack the relevant mental states are not persons.