Podcast
Questions and Answers
A moral agent possesses moral __________.
A moral agent possesses moral __________.
duties
Moral patients are those who are __________ of moral actions.
Moral patients are those who are __________ of moral actions.
receivers
Morally evaluable acts can be judged as morally __________ or wrong.
Morally evaluable acts can be judged as morally __________ or wrong.
right
The right not to be __________ is an example of a moral right.
The right not to be __________ is an example of a moral right.
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A moral person has moral __________ or moral standing.
A moral person has moral __________ or moral standing.
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If A and B are not moral persons, then A ~ B is not __________.
If A and B are not moral persons, then A ~ B is not __________.
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Rights imply __________, as possessing a right obligates others to uphold those rights.
Rights imply __________, as possessing a right obligates others to uphold those rights.
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The question of when personhood begins is a major topic in discussions about __________.
The question of when personhood begins is a major topic in discussions about __________.
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A moral person is someone who possesses moral __________.
A moral person is someone who possesses moral __________.
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Moral patients are the receivers of __________ actions.
Moral patients are the receivers of __________ actions.
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Some acts are not morally evaluable because the subject is not a moral __________.
Some acts are not morally evaluable because the subject is not a moral __________.
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The right to not be harmed is an example of a moral __________.
The right to not be harmed is an example of a moral __________.
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If both A and B are moral __________, then their actions can be morally evaluated.
If both A and B are moral __________, then their actions can be morally evaluated.
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Rights imply __________, meaning if I have rights, others must respect them.
Rights imply __________, meaning if I have rights, others must respect them.
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A fetus's moral standing is often debated in discussions about its __________.
A fetus's moral standing is often debated in discussions about its __________.
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Being in a persistent vegetative state raises questions about one’s moral __________.
Being in a persistent vegetative state raises questions about one’s moral __________.
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An act is considered not morally evaluable if both the doer and the object are not moral __________.
An act is considered not morally evaluable if both the doer and the object are not moral __________.
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To determine moral agency, it is crucial to assess when personhood begins and when it __________.
To determine moral agency, it is crucial to assess when personhood begins and when it __________.
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Study Notes
Metaethics: Moral Personhood
- Moral agents are those who perform actions that can be judged as morally right or wrong
- Moral agents possess moral duties
- Moral patients are those who receive actions and possess moral rights (e.g., not to be harmed)
- Some acts are not morally evaluable if the agent or object is not a moral person.
- Moral patients deserve moral consideration.
- Moral personhood is about being a moral patient in the sense of being a moral and deserving moral consideration.
Morally Evaluable Acts
- Actions are not morally evaluable if the actor or the object of the act is not a moral person.
Moral Person
- Has moral status or moral standing
- Example: Is a fetus a moral person? Is someone in a persistent vegetative state a moral person?
- Fetus's moral status is debated, with some cultures/ legal systems arguing they are not yet moral persons.
Theories of Moral Personhood
Genetic Theory of Personhood
- Possession of human DNA
Rational Theory of Personhood
- Capacity for rationality
Cognitive Theory of Personhood
- Consciousness
- Reasoning
- Self-motivated activity
- Communication
- Self-concept
Sentient Theory of Personhood
- Capacity to suffer
- Shifts from anthropocentrism to sentientism.
Life Theory of Personhood
- Possession of life or being alive
- Also shifts from anthropocentrism to sentientism to biocentrism, considering the rights of nature.
Relational Theory of Personhood
- Being cared for
Gradient Theory of Personhood
- Personhood comes in degrees
- Personhood can vary in "degrees," meaning it's not a binary concept.
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Description
Test your understanding of moral personhood and the distinctions between moral agents and moral patients. This quiz covers various theories of moral personhood, including genetic, rational, cognitive, sentient, and life theories. Explore the implications of moral standing and how it relates to ethical evaluations of actions.
