Mr. LeRoy writes, "Human brain function by itself has no significance unless you take as axiomatic that humans are special."
No, it has nothing to do with "humanity" (i.e., human DNA). It has to do with a functioning brain.
Do you know about conjoined twins? (Commonly called Siamese Twins.) Do you know that conjoined twins can be born, such that there are two bodies (or parts of bodies), sharing a single brain? (The technical term for one type of conjoined twins with a single brain is "Craniothoracopagus.")
http://www.parasitictwin.btinternet.co.uk/freaks/conjoined.html
If conjoined twins are born, such that there are two bodies (or parts of bodies), sharing a single brain, do you think that both bodies (or parts of bodies) have a "right to life?" That is, do you think it should be against the law to cut away one body (or part of a body), to produce a single live body and brain?
It has to do with a functioning brain. Adult cows have those.
If conjoined twins are born, such that there are two bodies (or parts of bodies), sharing a single brain, do you think that both bodies (or parts of bodies) have a "right to life?" That is, do you think it should be against the law to cut away one body (or part of a body), to produce a single live body and brain?
No.