PHIL 200 1st Edition Lecture 21Outline of Last Lecture I: Arguments for ProhibitionII: Argument for legalizationIII: AbortionOutline of Current LectureIV: Abortion ContinuedCurrent LectureIV: Abortion Continued5 traits, which are central to her notion of personhood:1.) consciousness2.) reasoning3.) self-motivated activity4.) the capacity to communicate5.) the presence of self concepts, and self awareness wither individual, racial, or both-She (the girl who created this theory) says very directly you don’t have to have every one or any one to be a person. We do not know how to weight their importance.-She often second-guesses herself and the traits she feels are central to the notion of personhoodBut what do we say about the moral status of:Environment: ex.) cutting down a tree. Is this morally wrong or right?Animals: ex.) killing the tusk Arkansas mascot. Is this morally wrong or right?Infants: ex.) killing an infant. Is this morally wrong or right?These 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.Mentally handicapped humans(severe): Pull the plug? Are they part of moral community?Brain dead humans: Do they still count as people? Is this morally right or wrong?Highly advanced computers? Does it count as a person? Is Wall-e a person and your infant isn’t?Highly advanced aliens? ET? Is he a person?To summarize the reasoning:1.) only members of the moral community cannot be killed innocently2.) all and only people are members of the moral community3.) fetuses are not peopleC.) So fetuses can be killed, though they are innocent (ex.) abortions can be
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