When Does Life Begin?

My last thread on abortion had nothing to do with this question, yet I found myself debating this over and over.

In my opinion, life begins at conception.

Others believe it begins at birth.



I want to know everyone's opinion and although scientific debate is welcome, I don't want people to fight over who is right and who is wrong. There are no wrong answers, only our opinions or those of experts and scientists, bioethicists or other specialties.

Understanding we have as much scientific consensus on this as we do on global warming, I want to know what your opinion of it is and why you choose this particular moment in the development of an unborn child to say that it is a life. I want everyone to feel free to post sources from pro-life and pro-choice websites without being criticized for the sources. This is all opinion based, but feel free to express or link to anything you think is scientifically relevant or religiously relevant.

Keep in mind, this is a question when does life begin. It is a separate question than, at what week should an abortion be banned. I would like you to discuss this too. So if you think it is a life at 24 weeks, but you do not believe that abortions should be limited between 24 and 40 weeks, let me know. I'd like to know if people have different number of weeks of development vs weeks after which abortions should be banned.

 

It begins when it meets the definition of life. That is not at birth. It is alive at birth.

However, the debate surrounding abortion on the pro side doesn't usually revolve around if it's alive but whether or not the mother should have the choice to abort if she so wishes.

And you've chosen the wrong science (global warming) to compare this to if you believe that there's no scientific consensus on either global warming or life.

 

I believe it’s at conception as well. Without human intervention that life would be able to grow and discuss this with all of us. As it is, some folks intervene and end that life before that can happen.

 

Okay but what is your opinion as to when it meets the definition of life? How many weeks along? And as for the abortion question, how many weeks along is too late to have an abortion?

(To everyone, please answer the poll question).

[PS Thank you to mods for deleting duplicate thread so fast.]

 

I believe at conception.

 

My opinion? When it meets this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life#Definitions


How far along should abortion be allowed? Before the fetus can survive on its own outside the womb. I'd prefer before it can experience pain. However, exceptions would be to save the life of the mother.

 

After having read your Wiki article, I would conclude that the article supports my contention that life begins at conception.

It basically says that if something is not dead, or an inanimate object, it is life.

 

Potential life begins at conception, personhood begins at birth. Your poll leaves out the word 'potential' so I am unsure whether to vote for 'conception'. I am sure a few lifers would misinterpret what I mean.

 

There is no scientific consensus on when life begins. Indeed, there is no scientific definition of life at all.

It comes down to opinion. I don't know when life begins in general, but I believe my life began the minute I was born.

 

I believe biological human life begins at conception.

But I dont consider biological human life to be valuable, its the mind which makes us valuable and gives us our rights. So it is of no significance to me. Fetuses should be protected since when brain waves appear, and that is in the 5th month of fetal development.

 

But it's just what you believe. You want to force others to abide by your beliefs.

 

Therefore, both the egg and sperm are "life"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_debate

You posted this, did you read it? There are many theories about the beginning of personhood listed in the Wikipedia article, but you pounced on the one that happens to agree with you. There is no consensus of opinion, there are only theories. Why would you presume to enforce your personal OPINION on all women by the force of the state?

If a person's life begins at conception, what about twins? The embryo can divide to form twins up to 14 days after conception.

You failed to provide an option for "life is a continuum," so I voted for "birth," because that is when I believe one becomes a person.

 

An egg is a part of the mother and a sperm a part of the father. They are reproductive cells, not individual life forms, but part of a multicellular organism.

You had the opportunity to select when life begins, and you selected at birth. You are welcome to say in a post what you really meant, if you think life begins at 14 days when the embryo can no longer divide into twins then tell us that. The question is when does life begin, not when is someone a person. You are welcome to start a thread with that poll question if you wish.

Read the OP. I said there are no wrong answers. This is about our beliefs and opinions. I am not here to say you are wrong (unless you are trying to tell me that a sperm is a person or a life), but rather to discover what and how and why it is that we hold this opinion.

I don't know what you mean by that "life is a continuum" statement. Perhaps you could elaborate on that.

 

...which is the problem with the question "when does life begin?" It's ambiguous. Sperm and eggs are not human beings, of course, but they are alive.

If you understand that, why do you insist that your own opinion should be enforced by law?

 

I cannot think of how one might word the question so as to be less ambiguous. Seems like it is a straight forward question which is plainly worded. It is only 4 words for cripes sake. How can I make the question more simple?

Abortion law is a separate question. I am interested in when people would say that life begins, and at what stage of development should it be banned. I think that my opinion should have the force of law to protect the life of the innocent. I think that someone's life is more important the someone else's right to privacy between them and their doctors. The same people who will tell you that a woman needs a right to privacy between them and their doctor are the same people who will tell you we need a top down government controlled health care system with absolutely no privacy, the government not only knows everything about your health, but makes your healthcare decisions for you.

 

Yet you deny that sperm and egg are lives. Is it lack of understanding or hypocrisy?

 

But are they inanimate objects? That was YOUR criteria.

 

Why is when it begins important? Is it not "what it is" that is important?

 

"Life" means different things to different people. Is "life" synonymous with "life of a human being"? You seem to think it is, but as one poster has pointed out, there is no scientific definition of life. Interestingly, here is a definition of "life" from Macmillan...

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/life#life_7

which would seem confirm my vote, at birth.

But you just said there is no wrong answer, and many people do not believe an embryo is a "life" (human being). Should laws be based on (religious) beliefs or facts?

 

Okay, so your definition of when life begins is at birth. That is your opinion. I am not going to say that your opinion is wrong, because you are entitled to it. See? That is what I am soliciting, people's opinions.

 

According to doctors and experts it begins at conception

http://www.princeton.edu/~prolife/articles/embryoquotes2.html

 

It isn't just my opinion. Or, are you now going to claim the Macmillan dictionary is wrong?

And...because you are not the arbitrator of who is right and who is wrong.

 

This Is Not A Person!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Once again, this IS NOT A PERSON!!!!!!

 

Only a lawyer would consider this an accurate definition of life. And here's why. According to you (and apparently Macmillan), the only difference between life and non-life is a few minor inches of flesh. So a fully formed baby can literally be one second from crowning in the delivery room and still not be considered "life." Ergo, life is not defined by your state of development but merely by your geography.

Neither is this....



Your definition of "person" is based on the arbitrary parameters of appearance. Mine is based on the equally arbitrary parameters of character. Neither of us is more objectively right than the other. Do you realize that?

EVERYTHING after the point of conception is completely arbitrary.