"Look , the use of certain words can be a tricky thing since words carry connotations . There are often multiple definitions of words since people use them in different ways . One of the list of definitions which I showed you of the word `` a human `` had two versions ( from the American Heritage Dictionary ) - one purely a scientific one and one defining a human as `` a person `` . In a scientific context , I and at least certain other pro-choice supporters would have no problem calling a fetus `` a human `` . But the abortion debate is not a scientific context is it ? It is a context about rights . There , the second definition of `` a person `` is what most of us have in mind and use . If you want a discussion about biology - i.e . homo sapiens vs other mammals , then one might use the term `` a human `` in its most broadest sense since it is being compared to other species . When the topic is not science but politics , the word `` a human `` carries a lot of other connotations that go beyond the scientific definition . We often speak of `` human rights `` , `` humanity `` , etc . The scientific definition does not and can not carry all of the underlying attached meanings behind those phrases . That is why the second dictionary definition of `` a person `` is much more relevant ."
"And we have been down this road . Person can mean a living human ... which the embryo is . So like human , you can have person mean the organism itself ."
"one purely a scientific one and one defining a human as `` a person ``"
"Person can mean a living human ... which the embryo is"