If we do not yet know with certainty when life begins we should provide legal protection at the earliest possible stage of development so we don’t potentially violate human rights while we’re figuring it out. Does this not make sense? Right to life takes priority over all other rights.
Let’s apply the same common sense to another moral issue: When we do not know every way each new chemical affects humans and the environment, should we just leave it up to chemical companies to decide which chemicals should be legally sold, trusting them to act unselfishly? That’s just asking for many to be hurt by selfish business people, right?
The ethical approach is to disallow the sale of all chemicals until society has gained near-absolute certainty they will not have a disastrous impact on people and the planet, despite how it inconveniences businesses. Lack of knowledge should motivate us to play it as safe as possible in protecting those who could be hurt the worst, not throw caution to the wind.
This deposit of common sense brought to you by The Clarity Blog - Offering a Breath of Fresh Common Sense in a World of Toxic Confusion.