This work investigates the moral status of the fetus and the infant to determine the ethical permissibility of abortion and infanticide. Michael Tooley, a philosopher known for his work in ethics and metaphysics, utilizes a rigorous analytical framework to dissect the criteria for personhood. By examining the logical requirements for having a right to life, he constructs a philosophical argument that challenges traditional conservative views on the moral status of human life at its earliest stages.

Experts in bioethics and moral philosophy frequently cite this text as a foundational, albeit highly controversial, contribution to the debate on the moral status of the fetus. Readers often note the extreme academic density and the uncompromising logical structure of the prose, which demands significant philosophical background to fully engage with the author's conclusions.