MCDB 150 - Global Problems of Population Growth
Lecture 23 - Biology and History of Abortion. The idea that "life begins at conception" is not a scientific one. Since the disproof of 'spontaneous generation' (1668-1859), we have known that life only derives from life.
Life arose billions of years ago and has continued since as a cycle. Assigning a beginning to a cycle (like the year) is arbitrary. The Bible describes the cycle as "Dust to Dust." Exodus describes a forced abortion as a property crime,
but taking the life of the mother as a capital crime. The New Testament does not refer to abortion.
(from oyc.yale.edu)
| Lecture 23 - Biology and History of Abortion |
| Time | Lecture Chapters |
| [00:00:00] | 1. When Does Life Start? |
| [00:17:41] | 2. Historical Belief in Spontaneous Generation |
| [00:23:44] | 3. Fertilization as a Marker of Life's Beginning |
| [00:27:55] | 4. Genetic Development |
| [00:38:39] | 5. Life's Beginning as a Cultural Decision |
| [00:48:03] | 6. Abortion in Law, Religion and History |
| [01:05:40] | 7. Further Historical Origins on Life's Beginning |
| References |
| Lecture 23 - Biology and History of Abortion Instructor: Robert Wyman. Resources: Notes - Lecture 23 [pdf]. Transcript [html]. Audio [mp3]. Download Video [mov]. |
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