[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I just have to wonder why you're so against the idea of a fetus being classed as alive? I mean by any definition it is alive; it's a distinct cellular entity with its own DNA separate to the mother/father, it consumes, the cells divide and grow. That's pretty much it for something being defined as "alive". The criteria for "being alive" isn't very high. Bacteria is alive. And a fetus is genetically human... Thus, it has to be human life. In some form. Whether or not its a PERSON is a totally separate question. I'd find it hard to define a fetus as a person until very late stage pregnancy, maybe even birth.

The question of course is why does it matter? Like I said you seem really against it being classed as life. Is that because you'd be less comfortable with abortion if you thought of it as human life? Or maybe because you think it would be used to bully women out of having an abortion when it would be the best choice for them?

I don't know if I'm unusual in considering it to be a human life l, but still nonetheless being quite comfortable with abortion.

I even understand the worry that it will be used to pressure or bully women. Undoubtedly, it is. I probably wouldn't be so blunt about it if I was discussing abortion with someone considering an abortion...I'd probably go with the white lie. I just don't see the point in refusing to explore the grittier side of the argument in a purely hypothetical discussion.

Abortion is abortion, I'm not uncomfortable with it, it is what it is and it's a necessary part of life for a lot of people and we shouldn't interfere or make it harder for people who have to go through with it.

I just think it muddies the issue to class a fetus that can't exist outside the womb as alive. Babies survive quite regularly at 30+ weeks but unless the fetus is lucky, it's not likely to survive at the earliest possible times of birth because the science isn't quite there to make it viable yet because more babies die than live when they are delivered that early. As I said to Zizu, when science and technology progresses to a point where younger fetuses can be viably delivered consistently, I'll shift my definition but as things stand, I don't consider a fetus below 30 weeks to be alive.