Abortion Rights And Wrongs

Embryos as Persons

Continue On
CONTINUE ON
Related Ideas
Review Related Ideas and then Return Here
 

Since you believe that the embryo is a person, you must answer critics. Consider that most of the properties that make people unique have to do with thinking in certain ways that animals, for example, do not.

Usually people can think logically, be aware of themselves as thinking beings, have hopes and aspirations, make decisions, and be morally responsible. But an embryo cannot do any of these things. You must argue that it is plausible to leave all of these elements out of the definition of "person". Ask yourself this question: What would it mean to say that an embryo consisting of a few dozen cells is a person? What characteristics of an adult does that embryo share? Do none of the traits listed above matter? If not, why not?


Reference: Warren and Tooley defend high standards of personhood. Read their articles to understand their arguments. You might look at Philip Devine, Chapter II, section 8 for criticism.

Ariadne Home Abortion Bibliography Abortion Home