Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihnp1.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihnp1!dolan From: dolan@ihnp1.UUCP (Mike Dolan) Newsgroups: net.abortion Subject: question is not irrelevant Message-ID: <217@ihnp1.UUCP> Date: Mon, 12-Mar-84 10:32:51 EST Article-I.D.: ihnp1.217 Posted: Mon Mar 12 10:32:51 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 13-Mar-84 08:19:19 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 40 "rabbit!jj" in an earlier article claimed that the ability to exist outside of the womb without extraordinary mechanical support was the distinguishing criteria of a human being. In a followup to that article I asked stated that if that criteria was applied evenly, someone on a life-support system in a critical care unit of a hospital would not be considered human. I asked how that fact could be reconciled with the stated claim. In a response, "rabbit!jj" said that my question was irrelevant because "A human being on a heart/lung machine is ALREADY a human being." My question is not irrelevant. If the ability to live outside the womb without extraordinary mechanical support is the basis for declaring someone to be a human being, then the absence of that ability is the basis for declaring someone to no longer be a human being. "rabbit!jj's" statement that I quoted above implies some other attribute that makes one a human being. I will stick my neck out and interpret what I think is the underlying thought in the above quote. I stand ready to be corrected if I am wrong. It seems that "rabbit!jj" is stating that when a child can live outside the womb without extraordinary mechanical support, it has proven itself to be a human being. Which is a much different statement than that the ability to live outside the womb without extraordinary mechanical support is what makes one a human being. So, let me go back to my original question. If the newly born child is a human being, and the fertilized ovum is not, then what is it that makes that "thing" into a human being during the time in the womb, and when does it occur? Have a good day, Mike Dolan AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL ihnp4!ihnp1!dolan