In termination of pregnancy (also called abortion), the human embryo or fetus is killed and then removed from the womb by chemical or mechanical means. It is a phenomenon documented in all societies, cultures, and eras [7. 9]. In nearly all cultures, there is extensive disagreement regarding the assessment of abortion, which essentially involves the question whether and at what point the embryo is a human being (Humankind, human being) with its own right to life. Prohibitions of abortion can be traced back to the beginnings of the Western legal tradition. Greek …
Pregnancy, termination of(962 words)
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Brinkschulte, Eva, “Pregnancy, termination of”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 30 May 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_027277>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210107
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