You probably meant invididual human, rather individual person, right?
Well they're synonymous really, as a person is defined as a human being regarded as an individual.
Just because you consider those factors to disqualify the fetus as an individual human doesn't mean that others must agree with you.
Of course not, that's a given.
That's just how you personally use the term.
Nope, that is how they are commonly understood, which is why the dictionary defines them that way. though of course no one is obliged to believe anything they don't want to, but it is wrong to suggest this is an arbitrary definition, or subjective on my part. I'm not citing the dictionary because i disagree with the claim, I disagree with claim because that is what those words mean.
I disagree. You are not merely bringing up a fact, but also your personal opinion on how to interpret what the dictionary is stating.
Well the dictionary clearly defines a person as a single individual, but yes, I am arguing that a foetus or blastocyst, is not a single individual. Certainly during the part of its development where abortions take place, and for the reasons I have stated. though of course no one is obliged to share my views.
What the dictionary states and what you interpret it to say are two different things.
No I am not interpreting the definition of person, I am quoting it verbatim. The argument is not about what the word defines, it is based on you disagreeing with me, that a foetus or blastocyst is not a single individual, but part of a woman's body.
As I have already stated, definitions are descriptive rather than prescritive.
Correct, and I was disagreeing with the foetus being described by Leroy as a person.
Except we are both disagreeing on how to interpret what most people understand this word to mean.
No, as I said we are disagreeing that a foetus is a single individual, and as I assert, part of a woman's body.
Not to mention that not even a majority is required for a word to have any given meaning.
The primary definition is meant to reflect common usage, so I'm not sure that is true, though there are often more than one definition. Gay for example has a secondary definition that used to be its primary definition, but most people now use it to mean people who are not heterosexual.
Nope. I am claiming you are misinterpreting what the dictionary is stating.
I doubt it, as I again, I quoted the definition verbatim. Our disagreement seems to be focusing on whether a foetus is a single individual or part of a woman's body. I assume we both agree that a person is defined as a human being regarded as an individual?
Well it was your claim, so one assumes you had something in mind, like distinct from the mother. My toenail clipping then also have DNA distinct from my mother, so the claim distinct DNA makes a foetus a person seems dubious, without a special pleading fallacy.
You have not shown that any of those biological facts, neither alone nor together, are sufficient to establish that the fetus is part of the woman's body.
I disagree.
You are setting up your very own criteria and claiming to have met them all. Sure, but they are yours and not mine, and therefore I have no reason to agree with you.
Then don't, this is a debate forum after all. However it is attached throughout gestation, it is immunologically tolerated by the pregnant organism, it is directly and topologically connected to the rest of the maternal organism via umbilical cord and placenta, which is composed of foetal and maternal-origin cells, without a clear or defined boundary between the two. The foetus is physiologically integrated into the pregnant organism, and regulated as part of one metabolic system. Whilst none of these are perfect indicators of organismic parthood, they jointly pose a very strong case. Note that all of these change radically at birth: the baby is no longer topologically connected (and placenta and umbilical cord are discarded); the baby is now its own physiological, homeostatic and metabolic unit (although still heavily dependent on maternal care/provision and care); and it is no longer in direct contact with the maternal immune system.
