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This is and remains a religious question, not a scientific one. Obviously it is incorrect that "life begins" at conception because the sperm and egg are already alive.

The idea that a new organism with a unique genome is formed at conception has never been debated. Whether that organism merits protection by the state is a political and religious question and not a matter for science.
10 posted on 01/17/2004 1:44:18 PM PST by Da Mav
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To: Da Mav
An individual's life begins at conception; your individual lifetime began at your conception; you came into being as a human organism at your unique conception. That suit you better?
14 posted on 01/17/2004 6:03:36 PM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: Da Mav
You wrote: "The idea that a new organism with a unique genome is formed at conception has never been debated. Whether that organism merits protection by the state is a political and religious question and not a matter for science."

It is true that biological investigation can only tell you who is a member of the human species, meaning humans of all ages and stages of development, both sexes, and all sizes, colors, and races. Biological investigation cannot tell you why it matters.

Gone are the days when great theorists of government like Thomas Jefferson could say that it is "self-evident" that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights" --- although this is, and ought to be, the foundation of American political philosophy.

Unfortunately, modern philosophy has degerated to the point where, to many people, it just means "personal opinions dressed up in verbal pomposity."

A philosophy worthy of the name will be free of internal contradictions, coherent, reasonable, and based upon observable truths, including social, historical, sociological and psychological. When it is rooted in identifying what causes human nature to flourish and be perfected, this tradition is called "Natural Law."

Religious thinkers would say that. since human beings were created in the image and likeness of God, we can only discern what would constitute "the perfection of the human nature" by looking to God in Christ.

However, for those who don't believe in God, there is still a Natural Law based on what "most people" are convinced constitutes individual human virtue and excellence, and the collective flourishing of human communities over time.

OK. The bottom line, according to the foundations of American political philosophy, is this: to prove that an entity is a human being, suffices to prove that this entity is endowed with rights, the protection of which is the basic function of government.

35 posted on 02/08/2006 7:14:03 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (Choice cannot be the paramount value in any course of action which has a victim.)
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To: Da Mav
Obviously it is incorrect that "life begins" at conception

"you" don't look like "you" did 10 years ago, or will look like in another 10. "you" became "you" at the moment of conception.

51 posted on 02/09/2006 3:41:42 AM PST by FatherofFive (Choose life!)
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