Vegetable Soul

New at Reason: Here's something that's obvious to anybody who's ever had a kid. To claim that that five-week-old cell cluster or 15-week-old mutant tadpole looks (or feels) anything like a human being is to stretch the limits of credibility. There is, by the way, a pretty rich history of theological debate about when "ensoulment" takes place—and that was before they even knew how freaky a developing fetus looks. Both sides of the abortion debate hope visibility and portability of the fetus will settle the argument in their favor, and the smart money says both sides will be disappointed. Ron Bailey discusses an open secret in the abortion debate