Thread: Is abortion evil?

Originally Posted by Blasphemer

Incorrect.
Brain waves in the cerebral cortex appear after 20 weeks. Without them, no mind can be present.
Thalamocortical connections, required for any outside stimulus (such as pain) to reach the brain appear even later.

Its a pretty common misconception that brain waves that indicate sentience appear after 6 weeks, but this refers only to brain activity in lower brain. Sentience is a product of the higher brain (cerebral cortex), and brain waves there appear no sooner than 20 weeks:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beginni...ogical_markers

Correct. And only several weeks after birth does a child exhibit any sense of self-awareness and comprehension of its existence as an independent entity.

Originally Posted by MegadethFan

Correct. And only several weeks after birth does a child exhibit any sense of self-awareness and comprehension of its existence as an independent entity.

I am not in favor of such statements. We have no way to test it conslusively. All of our self-awareness tests are pretty poor (as its ultimately a subjective qualia). For example the mirror test, while it can prove self-awareness, it cannot disprove it - if the baby is self-aware, but does not recognise how the mirror works, its a false negative. Its possible to be self-aware without reacting to any outside stimuli.

Better to stick with what we can prove with certainty - no brain activity in the cerebral cortex, no mind.

Originally Posted by Blasphemer

I am not in favor of such statements. We have no way to test it conslusively. All of our self-awareness tests are pretty poor (as its ultimately a subjective qualia). For example the mirror test, while it can prove self-awareness, it cannot disprove it - if the baby is self-aware, but does not recognise how the mirror works, its a false negative. Its possible to be self-aware without reacting to any outside stimuli.

Better to stick with what we can prove with certainty - no brain activity in the cerebral cortex, no mind.

Yes but the mind continues to grow and develop outside the womb. But I agree better safe than sorry - so abortion before birth and nothing after.

It's clear that Megadeth fan is a pseudo-intellectual who just enjoys the thought of babies being killed. Probably just because he knows it pisses people off who have a conscience.

Originally Posted by SpaceCricket79

It's clear that Megadeth fan is a pseudo-intellectual who just enjoys the thought of babies being killed.

ROFL, yeah you found me out.

Originally Posted by SpaceCricket79

Probably just because he knows it pisses people off who have a conscience.

Well no, pissing you off is something you do by getting worked up about it. But what's funnier is the fact you can never refute me! You dont even attempt to do so. That's the really funny thing about it.