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ABORTION

                                              February 6, 2007

  While on the subject of the
  definition of humanity,
  I might as well delve into
  the grand old abortion debate.

  The notion that humanity
  begins at conception is an
  absurdity -- but similarly
  the notion that it begins at
  birth is grossly arbitrary.
                                                     DRAWING_A_LINE
  The only reasonable conclusion
  is that humanity is a quality
  that develops gradually, a             In practice we need
  rising curve that may begin            to draw a line (or
  at conception, but continues           lines?) across this
  on through the natal development       gradient.
  process... and doesn't stop at
  birth.                                     At some point,
                                             killing this
                                             developing entity
     There's an interesting                  will be regarded
     factoid about EEG readings:             as murder.
     supposedly, something like
     conscious brainwaves can be                Given the uncertainty,
     detected in a fetus,                       it's understandable
     somewhere around the end of                that some people would
     the first trimester.                       want to play it safe
                                                setting the limit low
     Some people would like                     to make sure we have
     to argue that this                         it covered.
     establishes the humanity
     of the fetus at this                          Myself, I'm of
     stage.                                        the opinion that
                                                   setting it at
        But: a cow would generate                  "birth" is already
        the same sort of brainwaves,               playing it safe.
        correct?
                                                          HELPLESS
           (So: that was an
           argument that would
           only impress radical         In any case,
           vegetarians... in            even if you
           a reasonable world.)         buy the EEG
                                        criteria of
                                        humanity,
                                        this only
                                        excludes
                                        second and
                                        third trimester
                                        abortions.

                                           And if you were really
                                           concerned with eliminating
                                           second trimester abortions,
                                           you should be campaigning
                                           in favor of morning after
                                           pills.

                                               Abortions: have them
                                               early and often.



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