Personhood: Crash Course Philosophy #21

Crash Course Philosophy: What is a Person?

In this episode of Crash Course Philosophy, we explore the concept of personhood and what it means to be a person. We delve into the distinction between being human and being a person, and how this impacts moral considerations in various social debates.

Defining Personhood

• 'Person' is a moral term, while 'human' is a biological term.

• Being human simply means having human DNA, whereas being a person implies belonging to our moral community.

• Determining who qualifies as a person can be challenging and subjective.

Examples of Non-Human Persons

• Superman, an alien with non-human DNA, is often considered a person due to his actions and characteristics.

• Artificial intelligences like WALL-E or Samantha from the movie Her are also potential candidates for personhood.

• Some people argue that certain non-human animals, such as great apes like Koko, should be recognized as persons.

Controversies Surrounding Personhood

• There are disagreements regarding whether fetuses should be considered persons despite being clearly human.

• Beings in persistent vegetative states or with complete loss of brain function raise questions about their continued personhood.

• Some argue that individuals who commit heinous acts like rape or murder may forfeit their personhood.

Different Criteria for Personhood

Genetic Criterion

• According to John Noonan's genetic criterion, having human DNA determines personhood.

• However, this view has problematic implications and is generally dismissed by most philosophers.

Cognitive Criteria

• Mary Ann Warren proposes five cognitive criteria for personhood: consciousness, reasoning ability, self-motivated activity, capacity to communicate, and self-awareness.

• These criteria aim to encompass both humans and potential non-human persons.

Social Criterion

• The social criterion suggests that personhood is determined by societal recognition or someone caring about an individual.

• While intuitive, this view raises concerns about individuals who may not be recognized as persons if no one cares for them.

Sentience Criterion

• Peter Singer argues that sentience, the ability to feel pleasure and pain, is the key to personhood.

• This criterion focuses on an individual's capacity for subjective experiences.

Conclusion

The concept of personhood goes beyond mere biological classification. It involves moral considerations and membership in our moral community. Different criteria, such as genetics, cognition, society's recognition, or sentience, are proposed to define personhood. These debates have significant implications for various social issues like abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment.

New Section

This section discusses the concept of personhood and different perspectives on it.

Personhood and Moral Community

• Any animal with a developed central nervous system is considered a person.

• Some people believe that personhood is a right, which can be forfeited through grossly inhumane actions.

• This perspective justifies capital punishment by arguing that criminals who violate societal laws have surrendered their personhood.

Gradient Theory of Personhood

• Personhood is not an all-or-nothing concept but exists on a gradient.

• The theory suggests that personhood comes in degrees, and individuals can have more or less of it.

• For example, a fetus gradually grows in personhood throughout pregnancy as cognition develops.

• Personhood can also be lost gradually.

Comparing Degrees of Personhood

• Many people find the gradient theory reasonable.

• It acknowledges that both a fetus and its mother have some degree of personhood but recognizes that the being with more personhood deserves more moral consideration.

Importance of Understanding Personhood

• Understanding the concept of personhood is crucial for studying ethics.

• Your beliefs about what constitutes personhood will shape your ethical views.

• Consider all important factors when determining who should be included or excluded from the moral community.

New Section

This section concludes the discussion on personhood and emphasizes its relevance to social debates and ethics.

Recap: Criteria for Determining Personhood

• Genetic, cognitive, social, sentience, and gradient theories are criteria used to determine personhood.

Social Debates and Personhood

• The definition of personhoood informs important social debates.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Personhod

• Reflect on what you believe constitutes personhoood

• Consider the factors you find most important

• Be inclusive and exclude those you think should be excluded

Importance for Ethics Study

• Your answers to questions about personhood will be important when studying ethics.

New Section

This section includes sponsorship information and credits.

Sponsorship by Squarespace

• Squarespace is a platform for creating websites, blogs, and online stores.

• It offers user-friendly interfaces, custom templates, and 24/7 customer support.

Credits and Additional Content

• Crash Course Philosophy is produced in association with PBS Digital Studios.

• Viewers are encouraged to check out other shows on the PBS Digital Studios channel.

Timestamps are provided for each section.