IN 183 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Sentience, Fetus
13 Jan 2016
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Thesis: abortion is morally permissible at any time for any reason (if pregnancy unwanted ) because the fetus is not a person with a serious right to life. At most, it is a potential person - but the rights of potential persons cannot outweigh the rights of actual persons. Issues to emphasize: (1) why should we make the genetic-moral distinction? (2) potentiality issue. When is the humanity of a being established? l. V (1) consciousness, esp. sentience (2) reasoning (3) self-motivated activity (4) communication (5) self-awareness. Which, if any, functions or combinations of functions are necessary and/or sufficient for membership is a philosophical question. Online is an empirical/scientific question. l----------------------------pre-birth-------------------------------l--------------------post-birth-------------------l (1) and (3) + (2), (4), and (5)
