That the "conceptus" is human is not at issue; it's clearly not animal. That it's "a human" -- equivalent to a human being -- is precisely the issue. Science does not take a position on this issue. Religion does.
Wrong. Science fully accepts that the human individual, in all its individuality, exists at conception. Science does not argue that the fact of the conceptus’s unquestioned humanity means it necessarily should have human rights. Science leaves the value of humanity to philosophy. Scientist after scientist has testified consistently to this fact, even as recently as a few months ago before the U.S. Senate, and also before the Senate Judiciary committee on April 23 and 24th 1981:
"To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion ... it is plain experimental evidence." (Dr. Jerome Lejeune, the "Father of Modern Genetics")
"The exact moment of the beginning of personhood and of the human body is at the moment of conception." (Dr. McCarthy de Mere, medical doctor and law professor, University of Tennessee)
"I am no more prepared to say that these early stages represent an incomplete human being than I would be to say that the child prior to the dramatic effects of puberty ... is not a human being.” (Dr. Alfred Bongiovanni, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine)
“To say that the beginning of human life cannot be determined scientifically is utterly ridiculous." (Dr. Richard V. Jaynes)
Now then. If science acknowledges that a human exists at conception, but takes no position concerning the rights of such humans, and if “choicers” slaughter human conceptuses and even humans who are far more developed, this, by the millions, then on what basis do the “choicers” perform the slaughter? On none! They simply have declared “ipso facto” that the unborn child is slaughterable. That is the issue before us on this forum. “Choicers” murder children not on the basis of science, and they do not do it on the basis of religion (if you claim they do, then name the religion). “Choicers” murder the scientifically accepted human entities without any evidence at all that the humans they murder are ethically murderable. “Choicers” murder on pure whim, with no rational justification whatever. That, madam, is the essence of barbarity. |
