Can Science Tell Us When There's A Right To Life?

[Sunstone]

What, if anything, does science have to say about when a developing human has a right to life?

 

[doppelganger]

What, if anything, does science have to say about when a developing human has a right to life?

Little or nothing as "rights" isn't a topic science is equipped to tackle very well. If we define "rights" in terms of some biological or neurological attribute, scientific method can help us discern the most likely point at which that biological or neurological attribute is present. But where the "life" line is drawn, and thus where "rights" attach, is completely arbitrary and depends on the ethical system one uses to approach the question.

 

[rajakrsna]

:yes: It`s the CON-science that tells us what`s right & wrong.

 

[WhiteSeal]

Well, maybe science can, but you'd have to cut open a lot of fetuses to prove it wouldn't you now?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

The right to life is a philosophical/ethical question which will utilize scientific evidence for their arguments.

 

[Somkid]

Conscious and self awareness are the bench marks for life being considered sectioned, up until a certain point a developing human in the womb is not conscious or self aware. Other than that I agree with angellous_evangellous it is a philosophical/ethical question.

 

[logician]

Beyond state and Federal laws, the mother should be the decider of whether to abort or not to, not the church down the street, or any other entity.

 

[yossarian22]

Nope.
Rights and values are pretty much abitrary constructs.
Why, scientifically, is conscience useful in determining the right to live?

 

[WhiteSeal]

It might be easier to leave this question to retrospect in the future, when science advances to the point where we can more clearly state whether or not science can tell us when a life is a life.

 

[Captain Civic]

It might be easier to leave this question to retrospect in the future, when science advances to the point where we can more clearly state whether or not science can tell us when a life is a life.

Some people don't need science to say when a life starts. There are people that believe once conception has happened, although perhaps not a human consciousness life per se, it has the potential to become that, and some people don't like the idea of halting that. Plus, there's others that believe conception is the beginning of a life.

 

[WhiteSeal]

Some people don't need science to say when a life starts. There are people that believe once conception has happened, although perhaps not a human consciousness life per se, it has the potential to become that, and some people don't like the idea of halting that. Plus, there's others that believe conception is the beginning of a life.

Religion can't tell us when a life is a life because on a whole all the members of one religion don't necessarily agree.
Science can't tell us for sure due to the shaky definition of life from a scientific standpoint.

Scientifically, Life:
Responds (fetuses do, but not really.)
Can reproduce (since humans can, fetuses get instant qualification here)
Adapt (Fetuses cannot do this, at least not at the age they are abortable)
Metabolize (fetuses can metabolize, but they cannot obtain the nutrition for it on their own)
Growth (Fetuses grow)
Regulate (Fetuses can not regulate their conditions)

"Have souls" and "Can think" aren't criteria, so science has place a big CANNOT BE DETERMINED sticker on the fetus.

 

[djrez4]

"Have souls" and "Can think" aren't criteria, so science has place a big CANNOT BE DETERMINED sticker on the fetus.

Science determined a soul weighs 3/4 of a ounce. All we have to do is abort fetuses until we find the age at which they lose 3/4 of an ounce upon abortion. Problem solved!

 

[McBell]

Science determined a soul weighs 3/4 of a ounce.

Source please

 

[yossarian22]

Source please

Something about when a body dies, it loses somewhere around 24 grams of weight. Inexplicably. I think it was debunked some 8 or so years ago.

 

[McBell]

Something about when a body dies, it loses somewhere around 24 grams of weight. Inexplicably. I think it was debunked some 8 or so years ago.

There is even a movie based upon it.
But like you said, it was debunked.

However, it is possible that he has a different source.

 

[djrez4]

Source please

The part about killing fetuses might have clued you in to my sarcasm...

But, for the sake of information, read away: Urban Legends Reference Pages: Weight of the Soul

 

[McBell]

The part about killing fetuses might have clued you in to my sarcasm...

But, for the sake of information, read away: Urban Legends Reference Pages: Weight of the Soul

That site is merely confirming that Madougall was weighing dying patients with the intent of finding out if a souls has any weight.

So as a source for science determining that a souls weighs 3/4 an ounce, it does not suffice.

 

[logician]

That site is merely confirming that Madougall was weighing dying patients with the intent of finding out if a souls has any weight.

So as a source for science determining that a souls weighs 3/4 an ounce, it does not suffice.

It a soul has weight, it had better hope heaven isn't far away, because it can't travel near the speed of light.

 

[djrez4]

That site is merely confirming that Madougall was weighing dying patients with the intent of finding out if a souls has any weight.

So as a source for science determining that a souls weighs 3/4 an ounce, it does not suffice.

...because my entire post was facetious. I don't really think we should kill fetuses to determine when they have souls.

 

[Captain Civic]

Religion can't tell us when a life is a life because on a whole all the members of one religion don't necessarily agree.
Science can't tell us for sure due to the shaky definition of life from a scientific standpoint.

I didn't quote any opinion that has to have a religious undertone to be believed. As you just said, neither religion nor science can decide ultimately where a human life begins.

My point is that at the moment, people will use science, religion, a combination or neither to decide when life begins.