Instigator / Pro
9
1482
rating
24
debates
41.67%
won
Topic
#4482

Abortion is murder

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
9
Better sources
4
6
Better legibility
3
3
Better conduct
2
3

After 3 votes and with 12 points ahead, the winner is...

Sir.Lancelot
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
5
Time for argument
Three days
Max argument characters
10,000
Voting period
One week
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
21
1587
rating
182
debates
55.77%
won
Description

I will be arguing that abortion is murder and con will argue against it. Made this debate for Sir.Lancelot. If Sir.Lancelot is unable to accept at this time and I debate someone else then that's fine. Me and Sir will debate about this another time.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Con showed that it was not premeditated (as pro's definitions required) due to accidental pregnancy, at which point pro dropped out of the debate leaving this unchallenged.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Wasn't completely sure on voting on this due to my biased opinion, but here we go. Any questions, mention or message me.

This debate is mainly about, is the 'soon-to-be human' or in pro's case, the 'human' an actual human being?

Round 1-3:
Pro starts off semi weak with his argument that abortion is illegal in some places. I expected a bit more of a further argument from the beginning but that's alright. Con counters this without arguing the majority by saying, are these 'clumps of cells' human? And if we scratch off multiple skin cells per day, are we murderers? Pro counters this by saying basically we are all made of cells, fetus cells are not skin cells and stating the fetus definition. The end process leaves something dangerous. In his definition, he mentions "mammal". Which con immediately recognizes and states it as "not murder". However, I won't judge this significantly because con never elaborates. What is abortion? Does this apply to mammals, abortion wise? Do animals have abortions? What is the majority of animals that get abortions versus humans if so? Then from there, nothing happens until round four.

Round four:
Pro seemingly puts their conclusion in round four stating the significance of DNA. They state from the beginning of conception a human being is being formed. They further this by saying that the DNA of an embryo proves they are an individual person. Con counters by really just saying they have more in common with cells.

Since pro says fetuses are made of cells, and doesn't explain what cells besides DNA cells…

I'm left with the impression that even with these DNA cells, they (embryos or fetus) have more in common with cells based on their behaviors, etc.. Even though con didn't explain how they are more related to cells or in which ways, it's never countered due to pro's forfeit.

ARGUMENTS to Con.

Sources are iffy on pro's side.

Pro made a significant error with their website. Usually judges tend to skip over the sources, but I checked it out because nothing was quite cited. Pro's website actually shows that the majority of abortions are legal, they show the reason an abortion is being issued and why making abortions illegal would negatively affect people. Rather helping pro's case, this goes towards cons. For that reason, I'm giving this to con.

SOURCES to Con.

LEGIBILITY: All good from both sides, tie.

CONDUCT: For the most part conduct was alright, only one disappearance. I'll still give this overall a tie.

Mainly guys, I just wish there was more elaboration in general. What is abortion? It wasn't even defined. If you claim something such as mammals have abortions therefore it's not always murder, I need to know abortions are, can animals even be included? How are fetuses or embryos more related to cells than humans? In which ways?

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Not the most robust debate.

Pro failed to meet their BoP. They define murder as: "Murder: the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another."

Pro never addresses laws that permit abortion and draws a complete conclusion that because death occurs, that means it is murder. This goes against Pro's own definitions. Pro had a huge hurdle to jump over, and never came close to it.