PHI 237 1st Edition Lecture 2 The Nature of Thought Experiments- Men can never become pregnant- Many women have not been pregnant- You imagine yourself kidnaped unwanted burden- Imagine it thinking, imagine the acts in the womb and if its easier to kill an un-living person- Thought experiments are useful- Put us in touch with our deepest values14. Distortional features are morally irrelevant- Distortional features – casually affecting us ways upon reflection morally relevant, shouldn’t affect uso Ex) late abortions, baby seals beaten and clubbed, appearance- CONTROVERSIAL CASE – Thomson has us too sympathetic and siding with the mother because you were held against willo Siding with women who has been raped- Rarity of thought experiment that you will never need such support- One persons distortion feature may be thought as morally relevant from someone else- What can distort someone’s judgment?- Morally Relevant features morally relevant due to someone’s well being harms, burden, flourishing with life and death, satisfy, what are our intentionso Shouldn’t be hurting your judgmento No distortional features- To detach the violinist because don’t owe them something but fetus is attached morally relevant featureo We owe our family things, we don’t owe strangerso ** One persons morally relevant features will be someone else’s distortional features**- Morally Relevant – o The violinist already had life but the fetus hasn’t been kept to term- No risks with supporting violin but there are risks with supporting childo No health issues with being attached to violinist’s but health risks with fetusThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- ** Special obligations – owe more to family than strangers **- Burden differ - smaller violinist- Difference in loss – future - younger violins- Dying vs. Health- **Letting die vs. Killingo Make violinist someone related to youo Obligations have moral force Ex) Child Supporto Disconnecting violinist lets them dieo Big moral dilemma 1) Intention / motives might be morally equivalent 2)
View Full Document