edjames@ucbvax.UUCP (Ed James) (04/30/84)
Begin Forwarded Message ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 29 Apr 84 20:50:13 pdt From: hpda!hpdsd!decot (Dave Decot) Subject: Re: Possible definitions of human The truck driver killed the victim. Although the vicitm's body was preserved, the sensations of being that he felt before the accident are no longer present, therefore, there is no "human being" left. Since his body still functions, he is an excellent candidate for being an organ donor, and I hope his family understands that. Whether you call a functioning mind a "soul" or not, that is the person in my opinion. However, I must disagree with you that an unborn fetus/baby/whatever has no experience before birth. The motions of the mother's body can be felt, muffled sounds can be heard, and under adverse circumstances such as successful or attempted abortion, developed fetuses can feel quite a bit of pain. Although one might not classify these experiences as "high fidelity", they definitely serve an important function in the development of the infant's brain. Dave Decot decvax!ucbvax!hpda!decot ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Forwarded Message