To fully and properly understand Aquinas' Principle of Double Effect within the context of abortion, it is super critical to SET ASIDE the discussion regarding when the soul is infused (i.e. at what point do we have a human being with rights). And instead to simply apply as a premise that there is a human being (this topic is fully and accurately answered by today's scientific understanding, esp. after the discovery of DNA). Given the premise, you are now able to fully explore and understand the implications and apply correctly to today's discussions.
Great thought! My understanding is that for Aquinas souls to do not revert to previous stages. Part of the nature of being human is having a rational soul, so even if one were not functioning properly they would still have a rational soul
Obviously the evolution of the soul is nonsense by today's knowledge. I presume Aquinas' views on elective abortion (not covered here) would have been firmly against. I think the most rational argument for when abortion becomes good or bad is when the fetus becomes capable of living independently of the mother. I think, until that point, the fetus can be safely considered an inseparable part of the mother's body, for which she has sole responsibility. It's not nice to cut off one's own finger, but there's nothing stopping you from doing so if you really want. So should it be for any other part of your body in my view.
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To fully and properly understand Aquinas' Principle of Double Effect within the context of abortion, it is super critical to SET ASIDE the discussion regarding when the soul is infused (i.e. at what point do we have a human being with rights). And instead to simply apply as a premise that there is a human being (this topic is fully and accurately answered by today's scientific understanding, esp. after the discovery of DNA). Given the premise, you are now able to fully explore and understand the implications and apply correctly to today's discussions.
Would he consider a human in a coma or vegetative state a rational soul?
Great thought! My understanding is that for Aquinas souls to do not revert to previous stages. Part of the nature of being human is having a rational soul, so even if one were not functioning properly they would still have a rational soul
Obviously the evolution of the soul is nonsense by today's knowledge. I presume Aquinas' views on elective abortion (not covered here) would have been firmly against. I think the most rational argument for when abortion becomes good or bad is when the fetus becomes capable of living independently of the mother. I think, until that point, the fetus can be safely considered an inseparable part of the mother's body, for which she has sole responsibility.
It's not nice to cut off one's own finger, but there's nothing stopping you from doing so if you really want. So should it be for any other part of your body in my view.