PHIL 164 Study Guide - Final Guide: Assisted Suicide, Fetus, Genetic Disorder
Document Summary
What are the two interpretations of the word human"- (1) human in the sense of being anything made up of human dna, and (2) to be full beings part of the moral community. Three traits that are required for personhood- (1) consciousness, capacity to feel pain (2) reasoning (3) self motivated action (4) communication (5) self awareness. Purdy- it is wrong to conceive if there is a large chance the child will get a genetic disorder active euthanasia- an action that causes someone to die, a mercy killing. Passive euthanasia- allowing someone to die by refraining from treating them, feeding them, etc. Impossible to restrict a: will be abused. Nesbett- moral difference between killing and letting die. Leibniz- playing god is not a bad thing. Infanticide and abortion are permissible a: super cat argument (destroy potentiality, 1) only beings with the concept of a continuing self have an interest in their continued existence.
