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Politics : The Trump Presidency -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Lane3 who wrote (81376)7/4/2018 2:53:44 PM
From: mel221  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 354010
 
There is a lot in you statement, I will attempt to respond to a few issues.

>> I've told you that it's when it first breathes air.

At birth, the baby's lungs are filled with fluid. They are not inflated. The baby takes the first breath within about 10 seconds after delivery. T

medlineplus.gov

It appears your definition supports post birth abortion. Is that your intent?

In the 10 seconds after birth, but before the first breath, the baby is not a human person with rights. If not human, it is property and be treated in all imaginable manners.

It can be killed, tortured, maimed. Have its head chopped off, etc. These a gruesome examples of what is possible with your definition.

Now, a human zygote is a human being development. It is in its proper, natural environment. And it will grow and transform into human being capable of living in a different environment, but still completely upon other humans (usually the mother) for survival.



To: Lane3 who wrote (81376)7/4/2018 3:29:23 PM
From: Katelew  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 354010
 
<<Then define the scientific basis for when something becomes a person.

I've told you that it's when it first breathes air--when it is operating as a distinct entity in its intended environment. Science categorizes things. Science differentiates between chickens and eggs, between seeds, the plant that springs from the seed, and the fruit that grows on the plant. A radish seed is not a radish. Nor is a radish plant. A radish is a radish. Logically, a born zygote is a person.>>

If the ability to breathe on its own is what demarcates personhood from non-personhood, then what do you do with:

A 9 month old fetus that is born naturally but unable to breathe on its own.

An 8 month, 7 month, 6 month, 5 month fetus in similar state.

A two year old toddler at the bottom of a swimming pool.

A 40 year old man lying on the floor of a burning apartment.

A 60 year old woman choked by a piece of steak at a 4th of July barbecue.

Are none of the above scientifically categorized as persons?

Also, your plant analogies break down in your argument. The reason is that the plant that grows from a seed can't be categorized as anything until it has become fertilized. Corn is not corn until that tall stalk of leaves is fertilized. At that point, a miniscule ear of corn is formed. Picked too early it is an inedible ear of corn, but in terms of scientific classification it is an ear of corn from the point of fertilization on.