Personhood Flashcards
What is personhood?
The criteria under which you consider something a person.
What is the Catholic view on personhood?
That life begins at conception therefore the foetus is a person and to abort would be murder.
Why do Catholics hold that view?
Jeremiah - Before I formed you in the womb in knew you
Humane Vitae 1968 (Pope John Paul II) - ‘Human life is sacred.’
Declaration of Procured Abortion 1974 - ‘Abortion is a serious sin.’
What do Catholics believe about the Pope?
That he is a representative of God and therefore portrays God’s views and interests.
Would abortion ever be allowed for Catholics?
No
What did Aquinas say about personhood?
You are considered a person when you get your soul (ensoulment)
When did Aquinas say ensoulment was for a boy?
40 days
When did Aquinas say ensoulment was for a girl?
90 days
What do many law schools in Islam say about personhood?
A foetus is a person when it gets a soul = 120 days
What did Jonathon Glover say about personhood?
He argues it is difficult to state when a foetus becomes a person.
He says that consciousness is a criteria of personhood and questions whether even a new born baby has this.
You can’t state that a foetus is a person therefore abortion can be justified.
What did Peter Singer say about personhood?
It is impossible to define when a foeus becomes a person.
14 days = cells become specalised. This is when science recognises that you can put a number of personhood as the embryo becomes unique, but he thinks it is difficult to tell.
He uses the sliding scale of sentience.
What does Mary Anne Warren say about personhood?
A foetus is only a potential person as it does not meet her 5 criteria:
- sentience
- rationality
- self-awareness
- emotionality
- communication
