At what point are human beings considered alive?

Question

Is it when the first heart beat is detected while we're still in the womb or when we're born?

Answer 1

As soon as the sperm make it to the egg.

Answer 2

at the time of conception

Answer 3

I believe that when there is a heart beat, there is life. If we are not alive until we are born, then what is the difference between a stillbirth/miscarriage than a regular birth?

Answer 4

Typical answers will vary from the second that conception occurs to when the baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut.  

Alternatively I know several fully grown autonomous people who still need to get a life.

Answer 5

At the point right before i shoot you.

Answer 6

This is a very controversial issue, subject to intense debate. As far as I know, the United States Supreme Court defines life, when a fetus develops consciousness. In other words, its living when it is aware that it is alive and can respond to external stimuli. The supreme court divided a the 9 month development of a newborn, into three trimesters. Each trimester last 13 weeks. After the second trimester the baby develops consciousness, so you may consider a fetus as alive after 26 weeks.

Answer 7

From a strictly biological perspective this is a flawed question. There is no interruption of life. Both egg and sperm are living cells that combine to form another living cell. It is not as though a developing embryo is abiotic and then at some point becomes living; it is a continuation of life that began billions of years ago.