Personhood: Crash Course Philosophy #21

Summary

This Crash Course Philosophy episode delves into the complex concept of 'personhood,' distinguishing it from 'humanity.' It explores various criteria for determining personhood, such as genetic, cognitive, social, sentience, and the gradient theory. The episode examines how these criteria influence pivotal social debates, emphasizing the importance of understanding personhood for ethical considerations.

Takeaways

• 🧠 'Personhood' is a philosophical term that differs from 'human' and is based on moral considerations rather than biological ones.
• 🌐 'Human' is a biological term, determined by DNA, whereas 'person' is a moral term, indicating membership in our moral community.
• 🤔 The distinction between 'human' and 'person' is crucial for understanding complex social debates such as abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty.
• 🦸 Superman, though not human, is generally considered a person due to his moral actions and consciousness, challenging the genetic criterion for personhood.
• 🧐 Philosopher Mary Ann Warren proposes five cognitive criteria for personhood: consciousness, reasoning, self-motivated activity, capacity to communicate, and self-awareness.
• 👶 Warren's criteria suggest that some humans, like fetuses or those in persistent vegetative states, may not qualify as persons, raising ethical questions about their moral status.
• 🤖 The social criterion for personhood posits that a being is a person if society recognizes or cares for them, but this can lead to inconsistencies in moral consideration.
• 🐾 Peter Singer's sentience criterion for personhood focuses on the ability to feel pleasure and pain, emphasizing the moral importance of avoiding unnecessary suffering.
• 🔄 The gradient theory of personhood suggests that personhood is not binary but exists on a spectrum, allowing for varying degrees of moral consideration.
• 🔄 This theory implies that the moral weight of a being's interests can change over time, as seen in the example of a developing fetus's growing personhood.
• 🏛 The concept of personhood is not static and is subject to philosophical debate, with implications for ethical considerations and social policies.

Q & A

What is the distinction between 'human' and 'person' according to the script?

The script explains that 'human' is a biological term, meaning you have human DNA. In contrast, 'person' is a moral term, referring to beings who are part of our moral community and deserve moral consideration.

Why is the concept of 'personhood' important in philosophy?

Personhood is important because it is at the core of major social debates such as abortion, the death penalty, and euthanasia. It helps determine who is deserving of moral consideration.

What is the 'genetic criterion' as mentioned by John Noonan for determining personhood?

The genetic criterion states that a being is a person if they have human DNA. This view is simple but problematic, as it would consider cells and corpses as persons.

What are the five cognitive criteria for personhood proposed by Mary Ann Warren?

Mary Ann Warren's cognitive criteria for personhood include consciousness, reasoning, self-motivated activity, capacity to communicate, and self-awareness.

How does the 'social criterion' for personhood differ from the cognitive criterion?

The social criterion suggests that a being is a person when society recognizes them as such or when someone cares about them. It is more about social recognition and care than cognitive abilities.

What is Peter Singer's view on the key to personhood?

Peter Singer believes that sentience, the ability to feel pleasure and pain, is the key to personhood. This criterion focuses on a being's capacity to suffer, rather than their species.

What is the 'gradient theory of personhood' and how does it differ from other theories?

The gradient theory of personhood suggests that personhood is not an all-or-nothing characteristic but comes in degrees. It allows for a being to have more or less personhood based on various factors.

How does the script use the example of Superman to illustrate the concept of personhood?

The script uses Superman as an example to show that personhood is not necessarily tied to being human. Superman, though not human, is considered a person because of his moral actions and characteristics.

What is the significance of the Thought Bubble segment in the script?

The Thought Bubble segment provides a simplified, relatable example to help viewers understand complex philosophical concepts, such as the distinction between being human and being a person.

How does the script suggest we should approach the question of what constitutes personhood?

The script encourages viewers to consider various criteria for personhood, such as genetic, cognitive, social, sentience, and the gradient theory, and to think carefully about who should be included in our moral community.

What is the role of Squarespace in this script?

Squarespace is the sponsor of Crash Course Philosophy, and the script includes a promotion for their website creation services, offering a user-friendly interface, custom templates, and customer support.