Comments on: 34. “Objections to the Libertarian Stem Cell Compromise” http://libertarianpapers.org/2010/34-block-objections-to-the-libertarian-stem-cell-compromise/ A Journal of Libertarian Scholarship Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:59:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Martin S http://libertarianpapers.org/2010/34-block-objections-to-the-libertarian-stem-cell-compromise/comment-page-1/#comment-6574 Martin S Sun, 14 Nov 2010 20:17:35 +0000 http://libertarianpapers.org/?p=1532#comment-6574 There is an issue with defining human rights as starting at conception. Both issues are with twins.

First issue is with identical twins. After fertilization of the egg, the zygote starts dividing, and in some cases it ends up splitting into two parts, each ending up developing. How are rights assigned then? If it’s a duplication of rights, then would that not indicate that each twin has property rights to the other’s body?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identical_twins

The second is the reverse, which can happen, although rarely. Two zygotes merge into what is called a chimera. How would this be handled? Is it two humans or one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_%28genetics%29

That being said, that does not mean that mr. Block’s argument would not apply later in the pregnancy.

]]> By: MichaelC http://libertarianpapers.org/2010/34-block-objections-to-the-libertarian-stem-cell-compromise/comment-page-1/#comment-6572 MichaelC Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:54:46 +0000 http://libertarianpapers.org/?p=1532#comment-6572 “Libertarianism, Fleming notwithstanding, in contrast, is not at all “morally neutral.” Rather, it concerns what the law should be, certainly an ethically tinged question.” – Block

Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say Libertarianism is meta-normative? It doesn’t say what you ought or should do, only what you have a right to do? I think that helps distinguish between all the other run of the mill theories out there in normative land.

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