Ryan Delaney <ryan.delaney(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Let me put it this way: If you aren't trying
to
imply that the fetus is
a person, then what is the point of saying "A fetus
is human"? Everyone
knows it is a human fetus. I seriously doubt that
you could be taking
the time in an ethics article to explain that
chimpanzees do not grow in
the wombs of human females. If you consider it so
trivial to say "A
fetus is human", then you shouldn't have to say it
at all. The only
_possible_ meaningful reading of that sentence,
therefore, is POV.
So, "why say it, if its going to be controversial?"
Even though not saying "human" would be an endorsement
of one view, which de-"human"izes the fetus? The
point, again, is that even ardent pro-Choicers can
agree that a fetus = human, then why say "that would
be POV", "implies personhood" and hence "should be
avoided."
There is some linguistic overlap between the uses of
"human" and "personhood" as social and legal concepts,
and therefore simply avoiding them doesnt really
clarify anything.
Sincere regards,
SV
Avoiding them doesn't clarify anything, but neither does using them. In
fact, using them only obsfucates the whole issue. If you say "a fetus is
a human" in the article, people will read that according to their own
pre-determined POV. Pro-lifers will read it as "A fetus is a human
being" and pro-choicers will read it as "a fetus is human tissue". The
sentence adds nothing to the article by itself.
The philosopher in me is rising up in a rage on this point.
Realistically, the only people for whom "person" and "human" have
linguistic overlap are people who don't know how this sort of thing is
talked about. Maybe it would be best to clearly define the difference
between "human" (organic tissue with 42 chromosomes) and "person" (a
rational, autonomous consciousness) and specify that some people think
we are morally obligated to anything that is "human" while others think
we are only obligated to "persons". Once those terms are clearly
defined, "a fetus is human" would be uncontroversial and also meaningful.
- Ryan