A thorough treatment of a central part of the moral issue concerning abortion. The book is confined to certain cases of abortion, namely those which involve (a) an unmistakable lethal attack on (b) a creature which would naively be supposed a young human being. A consideration of our problem must take up the "liberal" arguments, that despite appearances, it is not a grave wrong to destroy such an individual, even though it is somehow of value. The book is constructed around the work of Ronald Dworkin and kindred writers.

This book addresses the controversy over abortion. Covering interesting topics, including the claim that certain items (paintings, people) have 'intrinsic value' and should not be destroyed; the thought that young human beings do not have a good of their own; and the question whether the objection to murder turns on the violation of right to life.