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Science Or Fiction Argumentative Analysis

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Science or Fiction Controversy: When is a life form considered intelligent?
Across many cultures there is a wide range of definitions as to when a life form is considered intelligent. Consequently, the debate on if and when it is appropriate to terminate a pregnancy has been highly discussed in the science community. Whilst there is no strict definition of life, most scientists would define whether or not something is living by comparing and observing certain characteristics; these requirements are, the object has the potential to perform the processes of metabolism, growth, adaptation to the environment, and reproduction (Schulze-Makuch & Irwin 2008). Whilst human foetuses can undergo these processes or have the potential to undergo these …show more content…
Dr Goldenring also states that death is determined by full cessation of brain activity (‘brain death’) and therefore, logically, ‘brain life’ is determined by full functionality of the brain (Goldenring 1985). The brainstem (medulla, cerebellum, pons) begins to develop at approximately the thirty-third day of gestation, however, development is not complete until the seventh month of gestation (Lubbe & Kenner 2009). Similarly, the human neocortex begins producing electroencephalograph (EEG) waves between the twenty-second and twenty-fourth weeks of pregnancy, and even so, the waves are not continuous, but rather, appearing in short bursts (Scott 1976). It can then be argued that a foetus reaches full brain development or ‘brain birth’ at this time and is therefore considered intelligent. Thus, terminating a pregnancy past this stage could be and is considered by many as …show more content…
Despite the lack of consensus among the science community and the religious aspects associated such as the ‘at conception theory’ (Butler 2005) and the ensoulment theory (Zindani 2000), the ‘brain life’ theory seems to be the most logical. If we entrust doctors and practising physicians to determine when a life has ended, as expressed by the result of no electroencephalograph (EEG) waves being produced by the brain, or ‘brain death’ (Goldenring 1985), then it is only fitting that doctors and practising physicians should determine when a life has begun by the result of EEG waves being present at the twenty-second to the twenty-fourth weeks of gestation period (Scott 1976). Furthermore, since there has been no scientific evidence to refute this theory, I believe that it is the most viable and logical reasoning to distinguish when a life form is considered

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