From: utzoo!decvax!yale-com!brunix!dkw
Newsgroups: net.women
Title: Re: Rational Argument Against Abortion
Article-I.D.: brunix.1341
Posted: Wed Feb  2 12:23:39 1983
Received: Thu Feb  3 06:59:41 1983
References: ihnp1.163

In Mike Dolan's argument that there is no particular moment when life begins,
because nothing fundamental changes, he also leaves no particular moment
when life ends  (I'm not eating write now, but I think I'm alive).
The obvious (and perhaps soon legally accepted) definition of death is
the moment when brain activity ceases.  As far as I'm concerned that is what
defines humanity, so that definition seems correct.  Then we can define the
begining of life symetrically as the time when brain activity starts.  This
is at about the 28th to 30th week of pregnancy.  I might be convinced that
abortions after that are immoral (but ok to save the mother's life),  but
abortions before the start of brain activity must be allowed.

David Wittenberg
{decvax|vax135|yale-comix}!brunix!dkw