[jethropalerobber]

...you must either not understand the difference in organ and organism...

i don't but it's not important to my question.

...or you refuse to acknowledge the individual human being at some point along the continuum as you move back toward the conception of the new organism so that you can make the transition from that individual to the two separate organ sub-units that conceived the new individual.

i read this part twice but i'm still not sure what you mean. i was responding to your suggestion that the neonate is the same individual as the zygote because they are part of the same continuum, and therefore should be treated the same.

my reply was to suggest that there is no break in that continuum when it ties back to the parent, only a branch. when viewed outside of time, all off humanity is a single individual - a great tree. can this individual be faulted for cutting off its own limb?

furthermore, that same continuum you mentioned links the neonate to its future death, at which point no rights are gauranteed. should we treat the neonate the same as we would its future dead self on this account?

if to extend your life of wonder you must resort to cannibalism, are you willing?

i don't understand your question. can you put in plainly?

[MHGinTN]

An organ is a sub-unit of the organism. Read the essay please. I posted the entire thing at about #201 or 250 above. The lack of differentiation in your usage of organ and organism is nullifying the points you're trying to reach for.

[XBob]

266 - "my reply was to suggest that there is no break in that continuum when it ties back to the parent, only a branch. when viewed outside of time, all off humanity is a single individual - a great tree. can this individual be faulted for cutting off its own limb? "

Congratulations jethro - you seem to be the only one who thinks as do I, that life begins before the union of sperm and egg, that it began long ago. However, I go beyond the first 'human being' for that initiation of life, to the initiation of all life, and that 'human beings' are just one branch on that 'tree of life'.