Dear Steve,
You said: "Sure, but the question is which forms of an organism do we
give rights to."
Mike: I'd say the rights belong to the fetus. But that being said, it is
very difficult for anyone to use government to protect them. I cannot
force someone who would kill their own unborn child to do otherwise
although I would give them a good "talking to" given the chance.
Regarding "brain death", if the child cannot take nourishment after it
is born, it will die anyway. I don't think we have to keep something
alive forever that will never be able to develop. That's not the issue.
The issue is the killing of viable embryos because they were not wanted.
Personally, I find the practice abhorrent but that's not a political
statement. I would just ask that those involved in the tragedy of an
unwanted pregnancy understand that there are a variety of better options
including adoption. There is a shortage of babies in the US and many
other places in the world. We should protect this natural resource in my
opinion.
Best
Mike
Regarding "brain death", if the child cannot take nourishment after it
is born, it will die anyway. I don't think we have to keep something
alive forever that will never be able to develop.
If I remember correctly, there was at least one case where it could be adequately nourished and it would grow. But as a thought experiment, the point is to find the conditions for rights. Given that, at what point did the fetus "die"?
That's not the issue.
The issue is the killing of viable embryos because they were not wanted.
IMO, the issue is whether such killing is murder.
Personally, I find the practice abhorrent but that's not a political
statement.
Ok. But this judgment is dependent on your answer to last question(whose rationale we haven't uncovered yet).
I would just ask that those involved in the tragedy of an
unwanted pregnancy understand that there are a variety of better options
including adoption.
I'm with you there.
We should protect this natural resource in my opinion.
That sounds good until one realizes that may mean violating the liberty of the mother and others involved. Should we throw people in prison for killing a brain dead fetus? Should we do so for killing a fetus with no brain? If a single cell has no brain, should we throw them in prison for killing it? etc.
Cheers,
Steve
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