ESSENCE: Interdisciplinary- International Journal of Concerned African Philosophers

This work analyses the philosophical appraisal of the conservative theory of abortion. Abortion is a recurring problem which centres on the issue of personhood of the embryo or fetus. Many philosophical schools or theories have emanated to tackle this problem. The extreme liberal and moderate theories conceive that human life begins at later time. Contrary to this view, the extreme conservative theory proposes that human life begins at conception when the sperm fertilizes the ovum. This work makes use of analytic method to analyze the philosophical postulations of these theories. The extreme or conservative theory seems to promote the dignity of human person by protecting the value of human life. Thus, it conceives that abortion has both negative physical and psychological implications on women. Abortion posits a threat to women’s life. People who commit abortion suffer from emotional agonyof depression. This work recommends that moral deliberation of abortion ought to consider the interest of the mother and child.

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