Abortion

Thomson believes that the right to life is hardly a plausible argument when dealing with rape. This was an uncontrollable event (rape and violinist scenario), responsibility cannot be placed on the woman to save the violinist or the woman to save the child. That child has no right to its mothers" body.
             Thomson not only believes abortion should be allowed when the woman is raped, but also when contraception fails. When contraception fails, she says, it is not the mothers fault. She didn't want the sperm to enter, she actually tried to prevent it. Thomson uses the analogy of people seeds to show more clearly why abortion is o.k. in this case. She asks us to imagine this time that people-seeds floated about like pollen in the air. You don't want children (people seeds) so you get screens to keep the seeds out. Unfortunately, a very small bit may leak through one day and a person will start to grow. Thomson asks if this unwanted person-plant has a right to your house, likewise does the fetus have a right to her mothers body. Aborting the baby would not be unjust. Thomson says that the conception was not wanted or planned for so the mother has the right to choose aborting it. The right to life is the mothers choice.
             When dealing with the right to life, Thomson points out another problem with abortion-opponents views. She again uses an analogy to make her point. Say you are on the brink of death and your only savior is Henry Fonda and the touch of his hands upon your head. There are no rights involved with Henry Fonda touching your head. You have no right to be giving Henry Fonda's touch, just as the violinist has no right to keep you strapped next to him for any period of time. The Fonda scenario also helps the people-seed argument by saying that the seeds have no right to your home, you tried to prevent them from taking root there. You had no control over the condom breaking, you are not responsible for the life of the child.