(F) L4: Human Person, Act, and Conscience

Question 1

T or F: “Person” and “Living human being” were seen as different in the past centuries

Answer 1

False (equivalent)

Question 2

Who are the 2 influential philosophers that challenged traditional understandings of personhood?

Answer 2

1. Peter Singer
2. John Harris

Question 3

Whose definition of “person” is this?

“A being who has the capacity for enjoyable experiences, for interacting with others, and for having preferences about continued life”

Answer 3

Peter Singer

Question 4

Peter Singer’s definition for “person”:

“A being who has the capacity for ______ experiences, for interacting with others, and for having preferences about _______ life”

Answer 4

1. Enjoyable
2. Continued (thoughts about the future)

Question 5

Whose definition of “person” is this?

“Any being who is capable of valuing their own life”

Answer 5

John Harris

Question 6

John Harris’ definition for “person”:

“Any being who is capable of ______ their own life”

Answer 6

Valuing

Question 7

Logical Implications:

In order to be regarded as a person, you must have an advanced level of what?

Answer 7

Brain function

Question 8

Logical Implications:

You must have a completely developed and normally functioning ________

Answer 8

Cerebral Cortex

Question 9

Logical Implications:

There must be a significant group of human beings who are _______

Answer 9

Non-persons

Question 10

Logical Implications:

There are many ______ beings who meet the criteria of persons

Answer 10

Non-human

Question 10

Logical Implications:

What do you collectively refer to these “people”?

1. Fetuses
2. Newborn babies and infants who lack self-awareness
3. Children and adults with congenital brain abnormalities
4. Those with severe brain injuries, dementia, and major psychotic illnesses

Answer 10

Non-persons

Question 11

Logical Implications:

What do you collectively refer to these animals?

Chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, dolphins, and many other mammals

Answer 11

Non-human beings (who meet the criteria of persons)

Question 12

Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:

Those who meet the criteria of persons have moral ______ and ________ as they deserve to be protected from those who would injure or kill them

Answer 12

Rights and Privileges

Question 13

Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:

Those who meet the criteria of persons have moral rights and privileges as they deserve to be protected from those who would _____ or ______ them

Answer 13

Injure or Kill

Question 14

Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:

They should be allowed to exercise their own choices or ______ as much as possible

Answer 14

Autonomy

Question 15

Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:

The same rights and privileges do not extend to _________

Answer 15

Non-persons

Question 16

Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:

Who stated this?

“Only a person can want to go on living or have plans for the future, because only a person can understand the possibility of a future existence for themselves”

Answer 16

Peter Singer

Question 17

Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:

To end the lives of people against their will is different from ending the lives of beings who are not _______

Answer 17

People

Question 18

Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:

T or F: Killing a person against his will is a less serious than killing a being who is not a person

Answer 18

False (a much more serious wrong)

Question 19

Kinds of Conscience:

Judges what is good as good and what is evil as evil

Answer 19

Correct/True Conscience

Question 20

Kinds of Conscience:

Judges incorrectly that what is good is evil and what is evil is good

Answer 20

Erroneous/False Conscience

Question 21

Factors to be taken into consideration in identifying erroneous or false consciences:

A mistake in ______ thinking such as deriving a wrong conclusion from given moral principles

Answer 21

Inferential

Question 22

Factors to be taken into consideration in identifying erroneous or false consciences:

Ignorance of the _______

Answer 22

Law

Question 23

Factors to be taken into consideration in identifying erroneous or false consciences:

Ignorance of the fact and other circumstances modifying human ______

Answer 23

Actions

Question 24

Factors to be taken into consideration in identifying erroneous or false consciences:

Ignorance of future ______, especially those dependent on the _______ of others

Answer 24

1. Consequences
2. Free will

Question 25

An erroneous conscience whose error is not willfully intended

Answer 25

Inculpable Conscience

Question 25

An erroneous conscience whose error is due to neglect or malice

Answer 25

Culpable Conscience

Question 26

Kinds of Conscience:

A subjective assurance of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of a certain act; implies that a person is sure of his decision

Answer 26

Certain Conscience

Question 27

Kinds of Conscience:

A vacillating conscience unable to form a definite judgement on a certain action; it must first be allowed to settle itself before an action is performed

Answer 27

Doubtful Conscience

Question 28

Kinds of Conscience:

A rigorous conscience that is extremely afraid of committing evil; is meticulous and wants inconvertible proofs before it acts

Answer 28

Scrupulous Conscience

Question 29

Kinds of Conscience:

It refuses to be bothered about distinction of good and evil; the mind decides on insufficient grounds that a sinful act is permissible or that something gravely wrong is not serious

Answer 29

Lax Conscience