(Continued from June 9)

Therefore, if a developed nervous system appears to form in and around the two month period, abortions quickly become morally questionable around that point. It is an early point - many women, especially in the Third World, are not even aware that they are pregnant at this time. A woman's body is the woman's body, however, whether or not a growing fetus constitutes part of that body. An adult woman's body and a growing fetus are not comparable; they do not simply each count as a universal one, which quite frankly is a stultified view. Accordingly, we should afford the woman's choice in such a paramount decision high precedence. It follows that Third World abortions are less immoral when performed later, though still not preferable.

About the equality of a grown woman and a fetus - many essentially argue that incipient life and the potential for full life are equal to full life, which is, in my opinion, incorrect. Potential life is just that - potential. It is not actualized. Moreover, in this case, the human in question, when the procedure is performed early, is most certainly not conscious and suffering is either completely absent or minimal, which only makes the argument of equality more dubious. Thankfully the current president is making efforts to expand women's rights in this regard, although certainly, improved birth control methods should represent a top priority in scientific endeavor.

Lastly, if consciousness and suffering due to developed nervous systems are scales on which we will measure the question of morality there is a great deal of morally reprehensible actions committed against non-human and fully grown organisms on this planet that call for human reform.