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It seems that secular philosophers do have methods that might be able to answer some of the key questions in the abortion debate. For example, it might be possible to show that a conclusion about the rights of the fetus follows logically from an analysis of certain concepts combined with certain widely accepted moral judgments. The point is not that any agreement has been reached, but that a secular method is applicable to the question.

Tribe may have felt that questions about personhood and rights are not scientific questions. But, even if that is true, does it follow that they must be questions of religious doctrine? Are there no other possibilities?