"Twinning Point" Not The Answer
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
I sympathise with the Anglican effort to free up useful scientific research with their proposition that Life starts at 14 days (Age 5th Nov). They are basing their definition of a human life on the possibility of individuation. Yes, you don't know what you're getting until 14 days - it could turn out to be twins.
But this doesn't quite work because it confuses what we know with what is. That is to say, although we can't tell if it's going to split, its already in the works that it is going to - or not. I don't want to kill the debate as to when life starts: I just don't think the "twinning point" is the answer.
Philip O'Carroll