The strongest argument the pro-choice
people have, of course, is the issue of
the right of a female to do whatever she
wishes with her body. The fetus can be
considered a parasite (and it is, in a
sense) which can no longer be allowed to
grow. I'm firmly pro-choice if it can be
shown a fetus is not self-aware. But how
would you account for the motions of the
fetus? Is that purely reflexive? If so, as
soon as a child is born, I'd argue a lot
of what it does is purely reflexive.
The strongest argument the pro-choice
people have, of course, is the issue of
the right of a female to do whatever she
wishes with her body. The fetus can be
considered a parasite (and it is, in a
sense) which can no longer be allowed to
grow. I'm firmly pro-choice if it can be
shown a fetus is not self-aware. But how
would you account for the motions of the
fetus? Is that purely reflexive? If so, as
soon as a child is born, I'd argue a lot
of what it does is purely reflexive.
Foetuses are not self-aware and neither
are newborn babies (hence kicking their
feet in the air because they don't know
that they are attached to their bodies)!
The difference between legalising abortion
and not infanticide is the fact that
foetuses are parasites, occupying another
person's body, whereas infants are neither
and are legal people.
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Dannzibelle
Supporter
Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 3775 Location: South East, England
Thanks: 27
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Posted: 05-14-07 11:38am
For the past two years i have been
studying pregnancy, birth and children
from birth to five years and i can tell
you that practially everything a newborn
does is just a reflex. they cry because
they're hungry and it's the only way they
know to communicate and when you put your
finger intheir hand they don't hold onto
it because they want to they do it because
it's a reflex
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Birch
Supporter
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 3963 Location: Bliss,
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Posted: 05-14-07 13:05pm
What part of the brain is responsible for
self awareness? Is that part developed by
a certain time period?
I would add to the grasping reflex that
they have the sucking reflex as well at
birth.
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Dannzibelle
Supporter
Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 3775 Location: South East, England
Thanks: 27
Thanked:11
Posted: 05-14-07 13:08pm
Birch
wrote:
What part of the brain is
responsible for self awareness? Is that
part developed by a certain time period?
I would add to the grasping reflex that
they have the sucking reflex as well at
birth.
i can't remeber which part of the brain it
is without going to find my work but i
know that self awareness takes about 3
years to be at the same par as an adult
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amino65
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 263
Thanks: 7
Thanked:3
Posted: 05-14-07 23:58pm
yeah, most of what newborns do are just
reflexes:
moro reflex- when support for head is
suddenly removed, reflex response is to
extend the trunk, and flexion-adduction of
limbs. disappears at around 3 mths.
stepping reflex- walking movements
triggered by holding the infant upright
with a forward slant and placing the soles
of the feet against the ground. Disappears
at around 6 weeks
placing reflex- triggered by holding the
infant upright and drawing the top of one
foot across the bottom edge of a table.
Response is to flex and extend the leg.
Disappears at also about 6 weeks.
Sucking reflex (as birch stated) triggered
by stroking the lips. The associated
rooting reflex is when the cheek is
stroked. Response is to turn the mouth
toward the site of stimulation. Reflex
continues till about 4-7 months.
Babinki reflex- is positive, with fanning
of toes in response to stroking the side
of the sole of the foot. Reflex disappears
at about 3 years as descending motor
pathways become established.
as for self awareness, newborns up until a
certain age are not self aware. like birch
said, newborns kick at the air but dont
realize they are doing it. They may
scratch themselves but aren't aware that
they did it to themselves. Self-awareness
develops later.
Cite for reflexes: Clinical issues in
anatomy college text (human anatomy 5th
edition: martini/timmons/tallitsch
