(F) L4: Human Person, Act, and Conscience Flashcards
T or F: “Person” and “Living human being” were seen as different in the past centuries
False (equivalent)
Who are the 2 influential philosophers that challenged traditional understandings of personhood?
- Peter Singer
- John Harris
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”
Peter Singer
Peter Singer’s definition for “person”:
“A being who has the capacity for ______ experiences, for interacting with others, and for having preferences about _______ life”
- Enjoyable
- Continued (thoughts about the future)
Whose definition of “person” is this?
“Any being who is capable of valuing their own life”
John Harris
John Harris’ definition for “person”:
“Any being who is capable of ______ their own life”
Valuing
Logical Implications:
In order to be regarded as a person, you must have an advanced level of what?
Brain function
Logical Implications:
You must have a completely developed and normally functioning ________
Cerebral Cortex
Logical Implications:
There must be a significant group of human beings who are _______
Non-persons
Logical Implications:
There are many ______ beings who meet the criteria of persons
Non-human
Logical Implications:
What do you collectively refer to these “people”?
- Fetuses
- Newborn babies and infants who lack self-awareness
- Children and adults with congenital brain abnormalities
- Those with severe brain injuries, dementia, and major psychotic illnesses
Non-persons
Logical Implications:
What do you collectively refer to these animals?
Chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, dolphins, and many other mammals
Non-human beings (who meet the criteria of persons)
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
Rights and Privileges
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
Injure or Kill
Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:
They should be allowed to exercise their own choices or ______ as much as possible
Autonomy
Other notable ideas from the philosophers regarding a person:
The same rights and privileges do not extend to _________
Non-persons
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”
Peter Singer
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 _______
People
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
False (a much more serious wrong)
Kinds of Conscience:
Judges what is good as good and what is evil as evil
Correct/True Conscience
Kinds of Conscience:
Judges incorrectly that what is good is evil and what is evil is good
Erroneous/False Conscience
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
Inferential
Factors to be taken into consideration in identifying erroneous or false consciences:
Ignorance of the _______
Law
Factors to be taken into consideration in identifying erroneous or false consciences:
Ignorance of the fact and other circumstances modifying human ______
Actions
Factors to be taken into consideration in identifying erroneous or false consciences:
Ignorance of future ______, especially those dependent on the _______ of others
- Consequences
- Free will
An erroneous conscience whose error is not willfully intended
Inculpable Conscience
An erroneous conscience whose error is due to neglect or malice
Culpable Conscience
Kinds of Conscience:
A subjective assurance of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of a certain act; implies that a person is sure of his decision
Certain Conscience
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
Doubtful Conscience
Kinds of Conscience:
A rigorous conscience that is extremely afraid of committing evil; is meticulous and wants inconvertible proofs before it acts
Scrupulous Conscience
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
Lax Conscience
