The moral status of the human embryo.
- 1 January 2001
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Human Fertility
- Vol. 4 (4) , 267-269
- https://doi.org/10.1080/1464727012000199641
Abstract
I first delineate the concept of personhood--that cluster of capacities that distinguish us from non-human animals--and then argue that mere potentiality for personhood does not by itself confer upon the embryo a serious right to life. What is required, in addition, is the presence of brain life, which almost certainly does not develop until the second trimester.Keywords
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