Dignity for the human embryo in the Encyclical Evangelium Vitae.

Abstract

The article begins with a statement in John Paui'II Encyclical Evangelium Vitae (EV) on the dignity of the human being and in the first part, it carefully analyses the most recent scientific literature on the development of the human individuai during his initial phases. This is in order to contradict the statements made by those who, on a presumed scientific basis, state that the embryo is not a personal human life, at least not during the initial period after conception. From the scientific data available, and according to the inductive logic of experimental research, it appears that the process through which a new human being is formed, has three characteristics: 1. coordination, according to which the embryonic development is a series of integrated and coordinated cellular and molecular activities controlled by the new genome; 2. continuity, which means that it is the same identica! being which is continuously formed according to a clearly defined pian; 3. gradualness, which means that the human embryo achieves his final form in a graduai manner. Therefore, with the fusion of the two human gametes, a new human individuai begins his existance or life cycle, during which he will autonomously realize ali the potential he is intrinsically emdowed with. This, therefore, shows that the ernbryo is not a potential human being but a real human being. Thus, if science can seriously state that in the zygote there is already a human being who is beginning his life cycle, it is up to philosophy, theology and the law, to analyse and define the intrinsic value to attribute to this new human individuai. The author deals with this aspect in the second part of the article, in which the inalienable and inviolable dignity of human life from the moment of conception, is supported. In conclusion, in the EV, the embryo has the piace it desetves: dignity like far any other human being, who therefore cannot be treated as an object.