should abortion be illegal after 6 months of pregnancy?

babies can respond to their mothers voices after 6 months

therefore they are certainly conscious

how is it not illegal to kill a conscious person?

Reply 1

Tanqueray91

22

Original post by Straighthate

babies can respond to their mothers voices after 6 months

therefore they are certainly conscious

how is it not illegal to kill a conscious person?

It is illegal to have an abortion after 24 weeks (roughly 6 months)... It's only acceptable if continuing with the pregnancy would be dangerous. I personally have no problem with this law, as I think the mother's life is more important than an unborn child's life, especially if it's quality of life would be severely affected by complications after this stage in the pregnancy.

You'd basically be saying that in worst case scenarios, the doctors would have to stand by and potentially watch a mother and the foetus die, if you made abortion after 24 weeks absolutely illegal.

Reply 2

AlmightyJesus

5

Original post by Straighthate

babies can respond to their mothers voices after 6 months

therefore they are certainly conscious

how is it not illegal to kill a conscious person?

venus fly-traps can "respond" to flies entering their "jaws" - are venus fly traps "alive" too simply for being, to some extent, biological reflective/responsive?

Reply 3

donutellme

18

Original post by AlmightyJesus

venus fly-traps can "respond" to flies entering their "jaws" - are venus fly traps "alive" too simply for being, to some extent, biological reflective/responsive?

Yes...

Reply 4

EllainKahlo

17

It's illegal to have an abortion after 24 weeks. Are you speaking hypothetically? Also, responding to stimuli does not equal consciousness.

Reply 5

Retired_Messiah

21

First response summed up what I was thinkin.

Original post by AlmightyJesus

venus fly-traps can "respond" to flies entering their "jaws" - are venus fly traps "alive" too simply for being, to some extent, biological reflective/responsive?

Plants are generally classed as alive, fam.

I think you wanted another word in there.

Reply 6

Blackstarr

20

If its more than 3 weeks, its a NO NO.

Reply 7

AlmightyJesus

5

Original post by donutellme

Yes...

and is life sacred?

Reply 8

AlmightyJesus

5

Original post by Retired_Messiah

First response summed up what I was thinkin.

Plants are generally classed as alive, fam.

I think you wanted another word in there.

what word

Reply 9

Tanqueray91

22

Original post by Blackstarr

If its more than 3 weeks, its a NO NO.

Why?? If later on after 3 weeks, something is found which is life threatening, you're saying we should keep the baby alive? If circumstances change with the personal life of the mother-to-be, and the baby wouldn't be looked after well, we should keep the baby alive?

Reply 10

Retired_Messiah

21

Original post by AlmightyJesus

what word

Concious or sentient instead of alive.

Frickin algae is classed as alive scientifically and they do **** all

Original post by Blackstarr

If its more than 3 weeks, its a NO NO.

Even if the baby's a product of rape and the mother's a sickly psycopath?

Come on now you can't be so black and white on this

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 11

donutellme

18

Original post by Retired_Messiah

Concious or sentient instead of alive.

Frickin algae is classed as alive scientifically and they do **** all

They **** up ponds

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Reply 12

donutellme

18

Original post by AlmightyJesus

and is life sacred?

It depends.

Reply 13

Retired_Messiah

21

Original post by donutellme

They **** up ponds

absolute madmen

Reply 14

Pro Crastination

19

I'd be inclined to say that once the foetus has a sentient, conscious existence, it has a right to life - which is probably many weeks/months after conception, I wouldn't know when exactly. That being said, I'm sure some branches of utilitarianism would argue that whilst taking the life of a sentient being is never pleasant, it may in cases like these be morally justified if that foetus was going to go on and lead a miserable life (i.e. be severely handicapped and in some form of constant pain). I couldn't convincingly argue against that perspective at the moment... I need to read more philosophy.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 15

NekoAngel13

14

Original post by Straighthate

babies can respond to their mothers voices after 6 months

therefore they are certainly conscious

how is it not illegal to kill a conscious person?

It's illegal to kill a concious person but after 24 weeks/6months it is illegal to kill a foetus without due reason. If there is a chance of the mother dying, the mother's health being compromised or the baby suffering then an abortion can be arranged. I personally don't believe that they are conscious because they aren't sentient nor are they aware of what is happening. They are mostly responding to stimuli.
The level of consciousness is irrelevant.
The mother is the most important person.

Reply 16

richpanda

16

Original post by EllainKahlo

It's illegal to have an abortion after 24 weeks. Are you speaking hypothetically? Also, responding to stimuli does not equal consciousness.

Yes it does. No later than 16 weeks would be the max for me.

Reply 17

Pro Crastination

19

Original post by richpanda

Yes it does. No later than 16 weeks would be the max for me.

It really doesn't, otherwise we'd think sunflowers have consciousness.

Reply 18

Pro Crastination

19

Original post by NekoAngel13

It's illegal to kill a concious person but after 24 weeks/6months it is illegal to kill a foetus without due reason. If there is a chance of the mother dying, the mother's health being compromised or the baby suffering then an abortion can be arranged. I personally don't believe that they are conscious because they aren't sentient nor are they aware of what is happening. They are mostly responding to stimuli.
The level of consciousness is irrelevant.
The mother is the most important person.

My question to that argument would be how exactly does leaving the womb suddenly bestow consciousness and the full set of rights that this entails? Surely consciousness (and hence those rights) develops during gestation?