Roland98

Perhaps "bestowed" wasn't the best word, but clearly one does not lose their status as a human simply due to mental deficiencies or brain death. If you want to argue they do, feel free; but this is such an absurd idea, I'll not say another word on it.


You may have no idea--I think it's a decent estimation.

Daleth

Bodies with no brain function are no longer or are not yet people. Poor brain function is not the same thing as no brain function. When brain activity stops, it's quite legal and common to pull the plug on machines keeping the body alive. Babies born with no brain (which does happen) are not people. They can not even feel pain, which is quite a mercy because they aren't able to regulate breathing and die quickly.

I was just giving examples of different reasons people give for that particular time being the beginning of human life. I don't believe in the soul one way or the other.

yguy

Then brain function is not necessary for one to be considered a human being with the attendant right to life, it would seem.

Which means that YOU have no idea either.

yguy

Who says so? The medical community? How do we know they are correct, since they have yet to even figure out whether brainwave activity is a necessary and sufficient sign of consciousness?

Roland98

Isn't that what this whole thread is discussing? Different ideas on when life begins?

fatherphil

abe, did you see godfather II? did micheal 's wife have the moral right to kill his unborn son just to deny micheal the child?

and tribal, start your own poll and word it any way you want.

Daleth

Sure we do. We know perfectly well that you can have brainwave activity and be unconscious. You didn't say what you meant, did you? If there is any dispute of the idea that zero brainwave activity equals zero consciousness, please pass along a source, because I've never know this to be in doubt at all. What I think is questioned is whether consciousness begins as soon as brain activity does or whether consciousness comes later. And it's not just zero brainwave activity that we're talking about in an early embryo. It's zero brain.

Daleth

Yes, absolutely. I might even say the moral responsibility... not quite that extreme, because I wouldn't force a woman to abort, but I think she made a very moral choice. She didn't do it to be vindictive. She didn't want to raise someone who would almost certainly grow up to be a killer.

yguy

You betcha.

Whether there is any dispute about it I don't know, but it is hardly a proven fact regardless.

Roland98

Please point me to anything with "proof" in science.