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From: wh@houxz.UUCP (W.HEINMILLER)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Society Needs a Definition of "Human"
Message-ID: <697@houxz.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Mar-84 13:31:24 EST
Article-I.D.: houxz.697
Posted: Mon Mar 12 13:31:24 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Mar-84 08:48:57 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 35

[]
Some of Paul Dubuc's comments point out the biggest
issue of the abortion debate.  It isn't simply the issue
of when does a fetus become human, its the issue of what is "human"
versus "not human".  Not only is this a problem for the abortion
debate, but euthanasia, whaling and several other current social
debates.

> Again, you avoid the contention that the embryo is a human individual by
> saying that is has only the "potential" of becoming human.  There is nothing
> that is added to the embryo (except food and oxygen -- don't we all need it?)
> to make it more human as time goes on.  It just takes care of itself.  A
> tapeworm will never be a human.

What is the definition of "human" such that we know a tapeworm
can never achieve it?  Is it physical configuration (head, arms, etc.)?
Then what about birth defects or handicaps?  Is it a mental capability?
Then again what about brain damaged individuals, or monkeys and whales?
And how do we know that a tapeworm might not turn into a human?
While such a possibility is generally considered impossible in the scientific
world, it could be considered possible if you reject basic science
as some religious groups do.  What then is "human", and what is the
test that determines whether something is or is not "human"?

> (Yes I will keep calling the fetus, zygote, embryo, whatever a human
> being until it is proved otherwise.)  

How about calling a deer, whale, grass, cornstalk, etc. human beings
until its proved otherwise?  What is the test that determines "human"?


		"Is mowing your lawn murder?"

		Wayne Heinmiller	Bell Communications Research
		houxz!wh		Freehold, NJ