why is the definition of person hoo so important? (3)
1, For abortion: the status of the fetus is critical
- for-end-of-life scenarios: when - if ever- does one lose personhood
- for our treatment of other creatures - are higher order mammals “people”
what are some topics that aren’t uncontroversial? What are some that are controversial?
Uncontroversial:
- “normal” adult human beings (capable, autonomous)
Controversial:
- fetuses, infants, children
- animals
- mentally disabled, severely physically disabled
- Alzheimer’s patients
- Robots, artificial intelligence, computers
what is the “Trolly Problem”
put different people on the train track in the fork in the road and it does this do eventually expose your biases - then you explain why
what is humanity?
- the biological category from which personhood is derived
what is personhood?
- a legal status, not a biological one
- a person is not a thing
- a person has rights and responsibilities, endowed with dignity, deserving respect
- all people are humans but not all humans are people - historically we have and still don’t treat everyone equal
historical overview: Aristotle, John Locke, Descartes
- Aristotle: thought there were 4 “souls” and only humans had all 4
- lesser creatures (intelligent mammals) had 3 and plants had 1 - John Locke: suggested that a “person” was a being capable of following laws, and feel both happiness and misery
- humans were able to feel many emotions at once whereas other creatures could only feel 1 or 2 at a time - Descartes: believed that since humans were the only creatures to contemplate their souls and not be slaves to the physical needs, that humans were the highest form of being (the equivalent of our “personhood”)
- we are the only ones who talk about our souls – so we should be treated better
in what example did personhood become an issue in Ancient Greece and the Renaissance?
- voting
- Ancient Greece: only citizens could vote (non-citizens were lower forms of life - working class or slaves)
- Renaissance: the exercise of reason was the mark of higher degree of human
Mary Wollstonecraft (Shelley) - what did she do and what was the response
- wrote a book that women should be allowed to vote (200yrs)
- radical point of view not accepted
- the response was that of they give it to women they should give it to chimps too then (implying they weren’t people)
what are the 3 different perspectives on personhood
- religious
- “from reason”
- “from biological sciences”
perspectives on personhood: religious - what is it, what is ensoulment
- religions have different views about “when” personhood starts
- ensoulment = at what point does this thing have a soul
- the threshold is dependant on ensoulment
- once personhood has been reached, many religions don’t believe you ever lose it - brain damage, or terminal illnesses are also from God and should be met to demonstrate dignity, not be halted
perspectives on personhood: “from reason”
- philosophers of the renaissance
- the main distinction between men and non-men was their intellectual activity
- men shared behaviour with animals: procreative, excretory, physiological systems
- but the superior minds of men made them better
- We all share the 2nd lowest level of the soul with animals
- Our ability to reason and logic is what elevates us
perspectives on personhood: from biological sciences and 2 examples
- this is where the future challenges to personhood will come from:
the emphasis is on finding traits of fetuses or comatose people that are similar to “persons”
Ex.
1. music appreciation by fetuses
2. cognitive abilities of the comatose
perspectives on personhood: from biological sciences - music appreciation by fetuses
- Trying to find if they have reactions to music
- Played different types to see if they would have different reactions
- 1995: Kenny Rogers was the most liked by fetuses
- They didn’t like Michael Jackson
perspectives on personhood: from biological sciences - cognitive abilities of the comatose
- Trying to see if they can introduce stimuli and if the brain will react
- Do you have the mental ability to have activity and just cant project it? Or are they not active
- Research shows that they still have mental activity
- Need to figure out if they have different responses to “objection” and “ approval” and you can now talk to them and this changes the game about these people not being a “person”
Definition of personhood would have to provide answers for the following: 4
- Abortion: when does personhood start
- Euthanasia: when does personhood end
- Animal rights: who should be included in personhood - only humans?
- Enhancement: can you fundamentally alter yourself until you are no longer a person?
“Emerging” Ethical Questions around reproduction (4)
- Status of fetus relative to the person who is having the child and engaging in risky behaviours
- Drinking - Selection of genetic traits
- Eradicate diseases in childhood - no one would object to that
- At what point does this stop? People will start selecting traits of their child that are better than average - How pre-mature a fetus can you rescue (24-25 weeks) - when should this fetus be treated like a person who can be cared for
- Pregnant over 40 in Canada = geriatric pregnancy
- Artificial insemination
- Do you have the right to expect medical treatment
