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From: lvc@cbscc.UUCP (Larry Cipriani)
Newsgroups: net.abortion,net.women
Subject: Clearing up my pro-abortion argument
Message-ID: <4710@cbscc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Feb-85 08:20:02 EST
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Posted: Fri Feb  1 08:20:02 1985
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The following is part of a correspondece that I've had with a
fellow here at BTL.  I hope this will clear up my argument for abortion.

======================================================================

I see how I've confused matters by not being precise.  I'll start with
the definitions that I've been working with.  These may differ between us.
(This will be a bit dry.)

a) A human is any being that has the capacity to think.  
	(Aristotle defined man as a rational animal.)
b) A homo-sapien is a being with a particular kind of gene set.
c) Rights are guarantees that force will not be used against a being.
d) Abortion is the forced termination of a pregnancy.
e) Only humans have rights.
f) Humans have rights because they have the capacity to think.
g) One right humans have is, the right to life.

1) Homo-sapiens that have the capacity to think can create a homo-sapien
without the capacity to think.  i.e. humans can create a non-humans.
	[not important in this note].

2) Homo-sapiens without the capacity to think are not human -> homo-sapiens
without the capacity to think don't have rights.

3) The capacity to think is shown by the presence of alpha/beta brain waves
in homo-sapiens.  Homo-sapien fetuses gain such waves at approximately
the 28th week after conception -> fetuses gain the capacity to think
at approximately the 28th week after conception -> fetuses are humans
after approximately the 28th week after conception.

4) Fetuses are human after they have the capacity to think.  Fetuses
are not human until they have the capacity to think.

5) Fetuses may be aborted if they are not human.  Fetuses may not be
aborted if they are human.

I hope this clears up what I'm saying.  Please point out any unstated
assumptions you find.

After looking at this several times, I thought that if you [anyone]
disagree[s] with my definition of human, I will let you use any definition
you would like.  Then I will try to defend the position that for *any*
entity to be *rights possesing* it must have *volitional capacity*, that is,
it must have the capacity to make decisions and choices.  That will take
a lot more work (another night).  Lets try to keep this from breaking
down into semantic trivialities.

======================================================================

I don't have any medical references to support point 3, but if someone
wants me to (and is willing to pay for my time) I'll dig one up.

If the responses to this are flames, I'll get this newsgroup (net.abortion)
abolished.  I have connections !

Larry Cipriani cbscc!lvc