On Mon, 30 Aug 1999, Paul C. Smith wrote:
> I personally believe that we have ethical responsibilities towards entities
> that have experiences (people, cats, and probably late-term fetuses), and no
> such responsibilities towards entities that do not have experiences (rocks,
> most insects, and fertilized human eggs). That's where I feel the line
> should be drawn, but make no mistake - there's no scientific support for
> that purely ethical/values-based decision.
Paul, once again, let me take the devil's advocate position with the
understanding I may agree with you. Here goes. Three questions. First,
why do you draw the line where you do? Second, how do you define
"experiences>" And third, why is the place where you draw the line, with
no scientific support or any other explicit reasoning expressed in this
brief paragraph, any better (in all senses of the word) than the line
drawn by someone else, that includes the fertilized ***human*** egg. It
seems that, with all due respect, your position is just as arbitrary as
someone else's may be who take a different and contending one. Back in
the mire of imprecise, "Oh, you know what I mean" words.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of History http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698 /~\ /\ /\
912-333-5947 /^\ / \ / /~\ \ /~\__/\
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