Subtitle/Alternate Title

An interdisciplinary investigation into alternatives that may compensate for a lack of discovery.

First Advisor

Karin Streifel, PhD

Reader

Elisabeth Moolenaar, PhD

College

Regis College

Degree Name

BS

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Number of Pages

72 pages

Abstract

I grew up contemplating the concept of life. From my Catholic grandmother to my pediatrician mother, I always received mixed perspectives on the hot topics of abortions, vaccines, and embryo use. I found that the controversy lies in an ambiguous, mixed understanding of what constitutes a human life. From biochemical approaches to extraterrestrial life forms and spirituality there is no clear, coherent all-encompassing definition of life. However, that does not mean we can merely agree to disagree. The concept of a human life has drastic implications on our everyday lives. An insufficient definition has, and will continue to, diminish quality of life and shorten our life spans. If we cannot define a human life we can not justify vaccines, drug development, and disputes over bodily autonomy regarding a fetus. We have (and will continue to) experience the recirculation of previously extinguished diseases. Drugs necessary to help facilitate bodily processes necessary for patients to live can be banned based on their use of embryos. Female reproductive tracts may be more regulated based on various versions of timelines regarding a human life. Furthermore, the inconclusive understanding of what constitutes a human life fuels controversy and leads to social divide within our political sphere. There is no all encompassing, all-pleasing definition of life, but we must find one. A lack of a clear and coherent definition has and will continue to diminish the very quality and length of our lives.

Date of Award

Spring 2024

Location (Creation)

Denver, Colo.

Rights Statement

All content in this Collection is owned by and subject to the exclusive control of Regis University and the authors of the materials. It is available only for research purposes and may not be used in violation of copyright laws or for unlawful purposes. The materials may not be downloaded in whole or in part without permission of the copyright holder or as otherwise authorized in the “fair use” standards of the U.S. copyright laws and regulations.

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