P1: from conception, a fetus is a member of the human race
P2: Members of the human race are intrinsically valuable
P3: It is wrong to kill an innocent human being
P4: Abortion kills a human being
C: Abortion = immoral
Defending P1: from conception, a fetus is a member of the human race
There are many theories on when a human being comes to start. The law says birth. Religion says conception. And science too has a conclusion: conception.
"The changes occurring between implantation, a six-weeks embryo, a six-months fetus, a one-week- old child, or a mature adult are merely stages of development and maturation. The majority of our group could find no point in time between the union of sperm and egg, or at least the blastocyst stage, and the birth of the infant at which point we could say that this was not a human life." [1]
Although this is not with P1, I will provide other evidences as well. (later abortion times) As by 8 [or even 6] weeks people record significant brain activity among the fetus. [2]
Now one must also define what is a human. There are many definitions on this topic, and there is always room for this debate. As you can already see, I believe conception is the beginning of a human being.
This argument is the simple saying of common sense. It is this simple. We know a fetus from the moment of conception is alive as after fertilization it already begins to grow and adapt to its environment. [3] Now, sure a fetus is alive. so what? It isn't immoral to hunt, deer are alive? I have actually heard this rebuttal, and it is highly flawed. Just because something is alive =/= it has intrinsic value, what gives a fetus value is because it is a living human. It is alive AND has human DNA, both of these things are needed for a human to exist. Also comparing a fetus to a deer is a poor example as other things, not just life, are needed to be a human, a fetus has these qualities, a deer does not.
Another argument I have seen is the skin cell scratch or the hair argument, as they have DNA. But this example too is flawed. Firstly, it is common knowledge the hair is dead once visible, so cutting hair is doing no damage. The skin cell argument too is flawed, as when you scratch your skin only dead skin usually falls off. Also both of these arguments are false on another premise, the mother/father organism will survive whether or not we rip these hairs out or the skin cells off, a fetus is a human ad is constructed is made up of different parts which is made from within, not like a normal object. These comparisons are extremely flawed.
The pro life position is a fetus from conception is alive and is a human, this is backed by science.
P2: Members of the human race are intrinsically valuable
The reason we have intrinsic value is because of what we embody, as opposed to instrumental value, which are totally different things. People denounce the killings of other human beings, yet this is hypocritical as I have demonstrated a fetus is a human being and these people support abortion, often. As people denounce the killing of others this shows there must be some value to a human, either through societies or other outlets. A fetus is as valuable as a human, so a fetus therefore has value.
P3: It is wrong to kill another [innocent] human being
This is fairly indisputable, there are cases though where it is justified. But abortions in the case of this debate (whoops the contraception failed) does not apply to the possibly just reasons to kill. It is a fact it is wrong to kill an innocent person, by opponent would likely agree, but differs on when life begins. As a fetus has done nothing wrong, it is wrong to kill a person (fetus is a human), and a fetus has value, couldn't I technically end here? But I continue :P
P4: Abortion kills a human being
Here is where my opponent will disagree, a fetus is a human so it does not kill any human being. Well before I talk about my premise, lets first see what abortion is.
"The word abortion comes from the Latin abortio, which means to abort, miscarry, deliver prematurely. The Latin word abortus means "miscarriage, premature, untimely birth". In medicine abortion means ending a pregnancy prematurely. " [4]
Now my opponent agree abortion ends pregnancy deliberately. But we differ on the premise of the does abortion kill a human being. As I have proven, assuming science is correct in assuming a fetus is a human [at conception], then abortion is in fact terminating a human being, and as hums have intrinsic value and it is wrong to kill a human abortion is morally wrong. This now brings me to my closing.
Conclusion:
Abortion is a termination of a pregnancy, which in turn KILLS A HUMAN, with intrinsic value and ends a perfectly innocent person. As it is widely accepted a killing of another human is morally wrong, and a fetus is a person, then abortion should also be considered morally wrong by more people. So to close, abortion is morally wrong, as it ends a persons life. I will once again outline the basic argument:
P1: Life starts at conception
P2: Members of the human race are intrinsically valuable
P3: It is wrong to kill an innocent human being
P4: Abortion kills a human being
C: Abortion = immoral
Vote para mio!!
[1] Willke & Willke, Handbook on Abortion, (1971, 1975, 1979 Editions)
[2] J. Goldenring, "Development of the Fetal Brain," New England Journal of Medicine.
[3] ttp://www.abortionfacts.com/online_books/love_them_both/why_cant_we_love_them_both_12.aspfacts
[4] http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/145870.phpAbortion
P2: Members of the human race are intrinsically valuable
P3: It is wrong to kill an innocent human being
P4: Abortion kills a human being
C: Abortion = immoral
Defending P1: from conception, a fetus is a member of the human race
There are many theories on when a human being comes to start. The law says birth. Religion says conception. And science too has a conclusion: conception.
"The changes occurring between implantation, a six-weeks embryo, a six-months fetus, a one-week- old child, or a mature adult are merely stages of development and maturation. The majority of our group could find no point in time between the union of sperm and egg, or at least the blastocyst stage, and the birth of the infant at which point we could say that this was not a human life." [1]
Although this is not with P1, I will provide other evidences as well. (later abortion times) As by 8 [or even 6] weeks people record significant brain activity among the fetus. [2]
Now one must also define what is a human. There are many definitions on this topic, and there is always room for this debate. As you can already see, I believe conception is the beginning of a human being.
This argument is the simple saying of common sense. It is this simple. We know a fetus from the moment of conception is alive as after fertilization it already begins to grow and adapt to its environment. [3] Now, sure a fetus is alive. so what? It isn't immoral to hunt, deer are alive? I have actually heard this rebuttal, and it is highly flawed. Just because something is alive =/= it has intrinsic value, what gives a fetus value is because it is a living human. It is alive AND has human DNA, both of these things are needed for a human to exist. Also comparing a fetus to a deer is a poor example as other things, not just life, are needed to be a human, a fetus has these qualities, a deer does not.
Another argument I have seen is the skin cell scratch or the hair argument, as they have DNA. But this example too is flawed. Firstly, it is common knowledge the hair is dead once visible, so cutting hair is doing no damage. The skin cell argument too is flawed, as when you scratch your skin only dead skin usually falls off. Also both of these arguments are false on another premise, the mother/father organism will survive whether or not we rip these hairs out or the skin cells off, a fetus is a human ad is constructed is made up of different parts which is made from within, not like a normal object. These comparisons are extremely flawed.
The pro life position is a fetus from conception is alive and is a human, this is backed by science.
P2: Members of the human race are intrinsically valuable
The reason we have intrinsic value is because of what we embody, as opposed to instrumental value, which are totally different things. People denounce the killings of other human beings, yet this is hypocritical as I have demonstrated a fetus is a human being and these people support abortion, often. As people denounce the killing of others this shows there must be some value to a human, either through societies or other outlets. A fetus is as valuable as a human, so a fetus therefore has value.
P3: It is wrong to kill another [innocent] human being
This is fairly indisputable, there are cases though where it is justified. But abortions in the case of this debate (whoops the contraception failed) does not apply to the possibly just reasons to kill. It is a fact it is wrong to kill an innocent person, by opponent would likely agree, but differs on when life begins. As a fetus has done nothing wrong, it is wrong to kill a person (fetus is a human), and a fetus has value, couldn't I technically end here? But I continue :P
P4: Abortion kills a human being
Here is where my opponent will disagree, a fetus is a human so it does not kill any human being. Well before I talk about my premise, lets first see what abortion is.
"The word abortion comes from the Latin abortio, which means to abort, miscarry, deliver prematurely. The Latin word abortus means "miscarriage, premature, untimely birth". In medicine abortion means ending a pregnancy prematurely. " [4]
Now my opponent agree abortion ends pregnancy deliberately. But we differ on the premise of the does abortion kill a human being. As I have proven, assuming science is correct in assuming a fetus is a human [at conception], then abortion is in fact terminating a human being, and as hums have intrinsic value and it is wrong to kill a human abortion is morally wrong. This now brings me to my closing.
Conclusion:
Abortion is a termination of a pregnancy, which in turn KILLS A HUMAN, with intrinsic value and ends a perfectly innocent person. As it is widely accepted a killing of another human is morally wrong, and a fetus is a person, then abortion should also be considered morally wrong by more people. So to close, abortion is morally wrong, as it ends a persons life. I will once again outline the basic argument:
P1: Life starts at conception
P2: Members of the human race are intrinsically valuable
P3: It is wrong to kill an innocent human being
P4: Abortion kills a human being
C: Abortion = immoral
Vote para mio!!
[1] Willke & Willke, Handbook on Abortion, (1971, 1975, 1979 Editions)
[2] J. Goldenring, "Development of the Fetal Brain," New England Journal of Medicine.
[3] ttp://www.abortionfacts.com/online_books/love_them_both/why_cant_we_love_them_both_12.aspfacts
[4] http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/145870.phpAbortion
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