Shades Of Reality

Appendix

Let H(t) represent the degree of validity of the claim that the fetus is a separate human being (at any time, t). Let B(t) represent the degree of validity of the claim that the fetus is a part of the woman's body (at the same time, t). Then, since the fetus must belong partly to itself and the rest to its mother, we have:

              H(t) + B(t) = 1

To allow for exponential decay with time, let B(t) be expressed in the form:

              B(t) = e-kt

where,

              k = an appropriate decay constant

Therefore:

              H(t)= 1 - B(t) = 1 - e-kt

Since B(t) represents a degree of validity, then 1 - B(t) must represent the degree of invalidity of the claim. Therefore the product of H(t) [the degree of being a human] times (1 - B(t)) [the degree of not being a part of the woman's body] must equal the degree of murder, M(t):

              M(t) = [H(t)][1 - B(t)] = (1 - e-kt)(1 - e-kt)

              M(t) = (1 - e-kt)2     [Realistic Abortion Curve]

By selecting different values of k, different possible "abortion curves" can be constructed. One such curve is presented near the end of Chapter Eleven. If t is expressed in units of "years" then the value of k is on the order of 1.