Pro-Life: Potential
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The embryo or fetus is alive and biologically human, but it does not have the unique properties of paradigm people or bearers of moral rights. For example, a young embryo is not conscious and does not feel pleasure or pain. It is clear, however, that it has the potential to be a person and to have the full rights of adult persons. As a result, it has an interest in its own full development into a normal adult and can be harmed enormously by having its development stopped by abortion. A being with such enormous potential should be accorded a strong right to life. To harm it is wrong unless there is a very good reason to do so.

Furthermore, most of us would agree that killing an infant is morally impermissible because it harms the infant. The infant, like a fetus, lacks the unique properties of paradigm people. Its rights are based on its potential for such properties. The embryo/fetus has the same potential and for this reason it must have the same rights and it must be equally wrong to kill it. Therefore, in most situations, abortion of the embryo or fetus is not permissible.

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