It is a fundamental flaw of humanity to consider all of mankind equal and above every other species known to us. It is a flaw that we do not even recognise as a flaw. We go about our day-to-day business without a second thought about whether or not the man across the street is less or more of a person than ourselves. Nevertheless, this flaw exists. It is unfounded and irrational and yet influences almost all our judgments and decisions. Personhood is not a right of mankind. In fact personhood is not a right of any creature. In this essay I explore how we can decide how to award personhood and to whom.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- On Non-Human Persons or Alternative Beings
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte
This essay aims to redefine the concept of 'personhood' and challenge the anthropocentric view that humans are inherently superior to other species. It argues that personhood should not be based on genetic characteristics or physical appearances, but rather on the mind and its capabilities.
- The essay challenges the traditional definition of personhood based on species.
- It proposes three conditions for personhood: self-awareness, reason, and recognition.
- It argues that these conditions can be applied to non-human beings, particularly intelligent primates and dolphins.
- The essay advocates for overcoming speciesism and extending personhood to non-human persons or alternative beings.
- It explores the implications of this redefined personhood for our treatment of animals and individuals with disabilities.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel
The essay begins by challenging the anthropocentric view of personhood, arguing that it is flawed and irrational to consider all humans as persons simply because they are human. It then clarifies that personhood cannot be determined by genetic characteristics or physical appearances, but rather by the mind and its capabilities.
The essay proposes three conditions for personhood: self-awareness, reason, and recognition. Self-awareness refers to the ability of a being to consciously respond to its situation, demonstrating an understanding of its surroundings and its place within them. Reason refers to the ability to make independent decisions and come to one's own conclusions, demonstrating a higher level of awareness of existence. Recognition refers to the ability to acknowledge other beings as persons, demonstrating an understanding of existence outside of one's own.
The essay then applies these conditions to various beings, including young children, animals, and individuals with disabilities. It argues that while young children may not yet meet all the conditions, they have the potential to do so. It also argues that some animals, particularly intelligent primates and dolphins, may meet the conditions for personhood. The essay concludes by advocating for overcoming speciesism and extending personhood to non-human persons or alternative beings.
Schlüsselwörter
The key words and focus themes of the text include personhood, self-awareness, reason, recognition, speciesism, non-human persons, alternative beings, anthropocentrism, and animal rights. The essay explores the implications of redefining personhood for our understanding of human-animal relationships, our treatment of individuals with disabilities, and our ethical obligations to other beings.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sam Mitchell (Autor:in), 2014, What is a Person? On Non-Human Persons and Alternative Beings, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/283724
