Sir, – William Reville (February 8th) argues that "personhood is more properly defined by philosophy than by science". I agree with Prof Reville that the appropriate discipline is philosophy.
However, philosophy has to be informed by science. Furthermore, there is no consensus among philosophers about how personhood should be defined.
If we accept Prof Reville’s definition in terms of thinking, anticipating, planning, and so on, then the weight of evidence is that human embryos are not persons. The weight of scientific evidence from embryology and neuroscience is not diminished by philosophical terms as “functionalism” or “essentialism.”
Functionalism, as understood by Prof Reville, leads to the startling conclusion that the status of both an embryo and a newborn baby are the same in terms of personhood. This radical and highly questionable claim needs to be evaluated with reference to scientific evidence, especially from neuroscience and psychology.
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I am not arguing that the non-personhood of the embryo (or of the early-stage foetus), should deprive it of protection in law.
My contention is that it has implications for the Eighth Amendment which imposes a rigid balance of rights between “the unborn” and the mother. That balance of rights should, I believe, be adjusted in favour of the mother in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities/life-limiting conditions, rape, and elevated risks to long-term health, consistent with recent findings against Ireland by the UN human rights committee and Amnesty International. – Yours, etc,
Dr DON O’LEARY,
Mallow,
Co Cork.
Sir, – No Irish person, who believes in the sanctity of the life of the unborn child and who holds intentional abortion to be profoundly immoral, has any faith whatsoever in the so-called “Citizens’ Assembly” and its consideration of the Eighth Amendment.
The “Citizens’ Assembly” is a stitch-up. It is a pretended “consultation process” by the Irish Government, which has already ridden roughshod over the consciences of TDs and party members on the deliberate killing of the unborn.
No one who regards abortion as evil is fooled by this State-sponsored, deeply biased charade. Let no one be fooled or hoodwinked. The Government, with the support of the international abortion industry and its many wealthy and powerful lobby groups, is hellbent upon repealing the Eighth Amendment.
Faithful Catholics, their fellow pro-life Christians, and those of all faiths and none who hold wilful abortion in abhorrence, must be vigilant and alert to the end-game of the deception being plotted. – Yours, etc,
Fr PATRICK
McCAFFERTY, PP
Corpus Christi Parish,
Belfast 12.