Laura:

There's a critical discussion of Marquis in Earl Conee's "Metaphysics and the Morality of Abortion," Mind 108 (October 1999). Also, as I recall, the Journal of Philosophy published at least two critical responses shortly after the Marquis piece appeared, one by Norcross in JP 87. I think that one critical strategy often used against M is a reductio--if Marquis's argument establishes that embryos face the same kind of grave loss in losing a future as do paradigmatic persons, then the same must hold of the gametes that would, but for contraception (or abstinence?) form the embryo. But this is absurd, etc... Conee discusses this one at some length.

Best,

Jim

At 09:52 AM 11/6/02 -0500, you wrote:

Does anybody know of a good response to Marquis's argument against abortion?

James Lindemann Nelson

Professor

Department of Philosophy

503 South Kedzie Hall

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 48824

(517) 353-4614

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