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Should abortion be legal?
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A foetus is a person

A fetus is a living being and thus abortions are a form of murder.

The Argument

Murdering a person is a crime. There is no difference between killing a fetus in the womb and killing a child. By taking away their life, you are committing murder. At the moment of conception, a unique genetic identity is created. This genetic identity will accompany the fetus throughout its life. Aborting a child erases this code. It is clear, therefore, that aborting a child is tantamount to murder.

Counter arguments

A fetus is not a person. It is a fetus. It is an extension of the mother. It cannot live outside the womb or independently of its mother. Therefore, it is not a human or a person. It is a part of the mother. Aborting it is no more murder than a woman having a mole removed or getting a haircut.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] A foetus becomes a person at the moment of conception. [P2] Killing a person is murder and is always wrong. [P3] Therefore, aborting a foetus is always wrong.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] A foetus is not a person at conception. It becomes a person later. [Rejecting P3] Killing a foetus is not always wrong. When it saves the mother's life it is necessary.

References

This page was last edited on Tuesday, 4 Feb 2020 at 11:23 UTC

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