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Comment by throw310822 | Hacker News Reader

So is a single cell human "because dna"? Also, the possibility to become something (conscious, or a human being) implies not being that thing now.

Anyway, personally I have a higher view of what a human being is and why it's deserving of protection than just a string of information.

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By saying "becomes", I was intending to leave open the possibility that, by somebody's definition, a baby might not be conscious. But they aren't going to stay a baby forever.

The universe is dense with people that could have been but never was. For example all the children that would have been conceived in replacement to a previous aborted pregnancy. It becomes a problem for us only when we make a picture of that possible person in our head (starting, for example, from a fetus). But it's our imagination, not something that ever existed.

Why?

The sun will become a red star in 5 billion years. We have voids in our universe which are not crossable.

From my pure nihilistic view, it doesn't matter, never has, never will. From an idealistic view: we are humans, i value the uniqueness of mine and the complexity and uniqueness of everyone else being part of my experience.

What is your "higher view"? whats your pedestal?

I think we agree. Humans are conscious, intelligent, remember their past, plan and dream their future, suffer and hope, have friends and family and partners they care deeply about. And are each a fundamental part of the lives of others around them. That's why I feel that statements like "human beings should be protected because they have human DNA" are inadequate as they focus on something that is neither necessary nor sufficient.

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