|
|
Article: The Myth of Biological Personhood.
- Article from:
- The Humanist
- Article date:
- September 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 American Humanist Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
As the focus of philosophical discourse, courtroom sagas, political platforms, and even incidences of violence, the question of personhood--when life begins--has been the underlying issue in all debate over abortion.
Perhaps the most misunderstood part to the whole controversy is the implausibility of ever reaching consensus. Such agreement could only be achieved if people were to lay aside their individual belief systems. And turning to science to settle the argument won't help because personhood can't be determined by science; there is no empirical evidence by which to judge it, there is no biological moment in human development that signals life has begun.
...