Personhood

Question 1

Are all persons humans?

Answer 1

No.

Question 2

Are all humans persons?

Answer 2

No.

Question 3

List at least three qualifications for personhood -

Answer 3

• intelligence
• sense of self/identity
• self and social awareness
• control of own behaviour
• recognition and appropriate treatment of other persons/morality
• consciousness
• communication
• memory

Question 4

If animals exhibit traits of personhood, what moral implications does this raise?

Answer 4

Then these animals will need to be given rights and freedoms like humans have.

Question 5

What would a human with severe brain damage be defined as?

Answer 5

A diminished person.

Question 6

What does the term diminished person imply?

Answer 6

Someone who used to be a person, but has lost some or most of their necessary qualifications. (Eg, people with severe mental illness).

Question 7

What would a fetus be defined as?

Answer 7

A potential person.

Question 8

What does the term potential person imply?

Answer 8

Someone with the potential to be a person. (I.e, babies in the womb/the extremely young).

Question 9

If someone can be a person, a diminished person, or a potential person - then what theory can be proposed?

Answer 9

That personhood is a matter of degree. (I.e some persons are more of a person than others).

Question 10

List two ways the negative view that “animals can’t be persons because they aren’t capable of speech” can be argued against -

Answer 10

1. There are many humans out there that aren’t able to speak.
2. Animals can still communicate without speech.

Question 11

What is personhood?

Answer 11

Personhood refers to the qualifications and traits that are required for someone to be a person.