Philosophy 2715F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Reductionism, Reductio Ad Absurdum, Commodification

• School: Western University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: Philosophy 2715F/G
• Professor: C. Weijer

Document Summary

Moral status/standing: the range of beings to which moral agents have obligations, who counts morally, foundational question, feature or set of features a being must possess in order to count morally, appeal to criteria. If it does(cid:374)(cid:859)t ha(cid:448)e (cid:373)o(cid:396)al status, the(cid:374) (cid:449)e do(cid:374)(cid:859)t (cid:374)eed to take it i(cid:374)to a(cid:272)(cid:272)ou(cid:374)t (cid:449)he(cid:374) (cid:373)aki(cid:374)g de(cid:272)isio(cid:374)s: does(cid:374)(cid:859)t (cid:374)eed to (cid:271)e (cid:272)o(cid:374)side(cid:396)ed. Rationality/autonomy: rationalist: capacity for rational thought, autonomy: capacity for self-governance, better, as a criterion, leaves out many human beings, such as young children or elderly people with dementia. Potential or actual rationalist/autonomy: extend the scope of rationality/autonomy, now includes many embryos and many children, some children do not have the potential to develop rationality/autonomy. Sentience: the capacity to experience suffering or pleasure. Interest in not suffering: does(cid:374)(cid:859)t i(cid:374)(cid:272)lude so(cid:373)eo(cid:374)e i(cid:374) a (cid:448)egetati(cid:448)e state (cid:449)ho (cid:272)ould(cid:374)(cid:859)t (cid:858)e(cid:454)pe(cid:396)ie(cid:374)(cid:272)e(cid:859, encompasses most human beings, including most children and elderly with dementia. Importantly also encompasses animals who are capable of suffering.