I was broadening it because it is absolutely relevant to the discussion as a whole, since the discussion is about abortion after all, not strictly only about personhood in total isolation.
Rifts Earth wrote:Abortion is not "punishment", it is not being classed as such, so I'm not quite sure where you are getting that from.
Perhaps punishment is the wrong word. Nevertheless, I take it as axiomatic that no person can be deprived of life, liberty, or property save on account of some misconduct - eg, attempted rape, assault, home Invasion. But it is impossible for an involuntary act to constitute misconduct. Ergo, if the fetus is a person, then her involuntary actions are insufficient justification for any action that would deprive her of her life.
See how it all comes back around to whether or not the fetus is a person?
It doesn't really, as people don't have the right to use the body of another against their will, so the personhood aspect is ultimately irrelevant, unless you are implicitly wanting to give the fetus a right that no other person has...?
Also, note that even if an act is involuntary it is still possible to act against them, it is no barrier to acting. Consider for example a person who is not compos mentis and is using the body of another against the other's will, the act is involuntary, but if the only way to stop what is happening from continuing is for the latter to kill the former, then that is justified. The only alternative would be to let the situation continue.