Disability Studies 2072F/G Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Persistent Vegetative State, Dementia
8 Feb 2020
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Arguing against the view that intrinsic psychological capacities as rationality and autonomy are requisites for claims of justice, a good quality of life, and moral personhood. Arguing with others excludes those with severe disabilities from moral consideration of personhood. Personhood in some cases has become an option for non-human beings. It has also been used in the past to exclude specific humans - while current disputes are occuring over fetuses and premature neonates. Mcmahan argues that those with congenital severe cognitive impairments fall below the threshold of moral personhood and do not deserve justice. He argues that the death of those below the threshold has the same moral significance of killing those above the threshold. He is interested in those whose moral status is uncertain, including: The inclusion of the csmr individuals are not at the margins of human life. Personhood a set of higher psychological capacities that include self-consciousness and rationality.
