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From: ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: a simple question
Message-ID: <3234@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 13-Oct-84 11:36:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: rabbit.3234
Posted: Sat Oct 13 11:36:00 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 14-Oct-84 07:06:39 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 36

The view that abortion is murder follows logically from the
assumption that a fetus is a human being (an assumption I do
not happen to hold).  Once you make that assumption, it seems
that you are forced to the conclusion that abortion should
not be permitted under any circumstances, with a possible
exception for the case where both mother and baby will surely
die if the pregnancy is continued to term.

Since I believe that the essence of humanity is rational
consciousness, and everything we know about consciousness
indicates that it is a function of the brain, I am forced
to conclude that until it develops a brain capable of
sustaining consciousness, a fetus is not a human being,
and a pregnancy may be terminated before that point.
(when that point might be is an interesting medical
question, but is not relevant to the question I am about to ask)

I am convinced that my view also follows consistantly
from my assumptions, and am aware (of course) that
others do not share these assumptions.

There seem to be a significant number of people who
hold a third view.  I have never seen the reasoning behind
this view articulated clearly, but its conclusion is
that abortion should be prohibited except in cases of
rape or incest.

Now, I have trouble finding a set of assumptions from
which this conclusion can be drawn.  It seems to me
that if a fetus is a human being, than abortion is murder
and is not to be tolerated under any circumstances.  If
it is not human, than there is no justification for
restricting abortion on demand.

Can someone who holds this third view enlighten me
(by mail please) on its philosophical basis?