Stevenlmeyer,

Without quite answering your question, how about when the cerebral cortex is "adequately" developed?

You mention pain responses, yet these may be mediated by reflex loops and basal processes that have little to do with awareness.

At 12 weeks, the white matter is a thin smooth layer, with none of the volume and convolutions that are very clear at 24 weeks, and a distinctive feature of higher primate brains.

The formation of the white matter involves the tentative random formation and destruction of a great many potential synapses, discarding inappropriate feedback loops and the like. I suggest that this is one of the later stages before birth that determine individuality, capacities, preferences and personality. It is perhaps "adequately" complete when a foetus is reasonably capable of surviving premature delivery.

There is a mundane "individuality" set upon formation of a zygote, yet identical twins are individuals. I propose that their individuality, and personhood, is critically contributed to during white matter formation and is negligible prior to completion.

Rusty.

PRO abortionists - a fetus is not a living entity/person/human, therefore to abort is not murder and so should be legal. BUT are content that a person can be charged with murder for terminating a pregnancy by way of assault or similar. Does this mean only the "unwanted" are not living entities/people/humans?

ANTI abortionist - a fetus is a human life, thus to abort is murder and therefore should be illegal. BUT in cases of rape, then abortion is acceptable. Does this mean that fetuses/human lives resulting from rape are somehow different, not human lives?

Steven, I do wonder why you opened this topic, given that the law has removed from you any legal rights in affecting the outcome of any pregnancy.