Charlie Camosy asked me to post a "save the date" for a conference on abortion at Princeton that will try to bring pro-life and pro-choice people together. Given the interest of many members of this blog in the topic, I thought you'd be interested. I'm also a speaker. It's October 15 and 16, 2010.

Save the Date!

Open Hearts, Open Minds and Fair Minded WordsA Conference on Life and Choice in the Abortion DebatePrinceton University - October 15 & 16, 2010Sponsors:University Center for Human Values & James Madison Program, Princeton University; Department of Theology, Fordham University; Center for Bioethics, University of PennsylvaniaOrganizing Committee:Charles Camosy, Fordham University, Frances Kissling, University of PennsylvaniaJennifer Miller, Bioethics International, Peter Singer, Princeton UniversityInspired by President Obamas address at Notre Dame in which he called on those on different sides of the abortion issue not only to work together where we agree, but lso to engage in vigorous debate with open hearts, open minds, and fair minded words.

Conference Panels

Plenary: The Moral Status of the Fetus. Different perspectives on the moral status of the fetus deeply divide those who favor and those who oppose legal abortion. Proponents of different views will present and discuss their perspectives.Moderator: Arthur Caplan, Center for Bioethics, University of PennsylvaniaJohn Finnis, University of OxfordMargaret Little, Georgetown UniversityPeter Singer, Princeton UniversityPlenary: A Womans Moral Duty to the Fetus?This panel will bypass the moral status of the fetus and instead ask the following question: if we were to grant that the fetus has moral status, does it follow that there is a moral obligation on the part of a woman to bring her pregnancy to term?Moderator: Jennifer Miller, Bioethics InternationalCharles Camosy, Fordham University and Ruth Macklin, Einstein College of MedicinePlenary: From Morality to Public Policy.This panel will debate the complex and important public policy questions remaining even after drawing conclusions about the topics of the previous two panels. For instance, if we were to agree that abortion is morally wrong, does this mean that we should prohibit it? Is it legally or practically possible to significantly restrict abortion?Helen Alvare, George Mason UniversityDavid Garrow, University of CambridgeCathleen Kaveny, University of Notre DameDorothy Roberts, Northwestern UniversityPlenary: Opening Hearts and Minds on Abortion. Is Common Ground Possible?This panel will explore efforts to increase understanding, reduce conflict and find common ground among those who hold different views on abortion. In addition to analyzing past efforts, it will explore the current efforts of the Obama administration and make suggestions for improving that work.Panelists include: David Gushee, Mercer and Rachel Laser, Third WayPlenary: Abortion in America, Should it be a Constitutional Question? The United States and South Africa are the only two countries where abortions legality has been determined on the basis of a constitutional right. In the US this approach has been applauded and criticized on both legal and ethical grounds. This panel will ask whether it is sound public policy to rely on the courts, rather than the legislatures, to settle abortion policy.Concurrent Sessions:Do Some Reasons for Abortion Exacerbate Discrimination against Persons?Preventing Unintended PregnanciesWhen Might a Fetus Feel Pain and What Should We Do about It?How Far Does the Right of Conscientious Refusal Extend?Providing Support for Continuing PregnancyTo receive early notification when registration opens, please contact:Kim Girman, University Center for Human Values, Princeton [email protected]