The special value of

persons

1
Replacibility

Perfectly sensible to sacrifice a small

interest now for satisfaction of a more
substantial interest later
Singer mentions Principle of Equal
Consideration
Needs to be extended even to animals-their
pain and suffering should be seen as morally
on par with humans
 Replacibility

Utilitarian trade-off: Frustrating

the preference of another if it
can be replaced by mine is
acceptable (goes against equal
consideration)

3
 What makes human preferences
non-replaceable?
Singer: Something special about
human beings
Persons: Lives not readily
replaceable
Future-oriented
Killing a person violates significant
preferences
It disregards everything the victim
has done in the past (and untimely
eliminates their future)

4
 What is a person?
A being which is at least self-conscious
Self-consciousness: The ability to
perceive oneself as a being which has a
history and a future
More than mere consciousness or
sentience
Linked to memory and ability to
anticipate the future
Self-conscious being: Complex
preferences
5
 Quiz
Which of the following statements are
true?
1. Some non-human animals might be
self-conscious.
2. An important element in self-
consciousness is the ability to
anticipate ones future.
3. All members of the species Homo
sapiens are self-conscious.
6
Admin
Face book page for this unit:
Send friend request to Phil Page MSA
Will use it as an additional platform of
communication
Quizzes:
Quiz 1- 16 March (covers lectures from week 1
and 2)
Quiz 2- 23 March (covers lecture from week 3)
Essays:
Essay 1-13th April by 3:30pm
Essay 2- 4th May by 3:30pm