it’s the determinant again for someone in a vegetative state. The root of this conversation began with your assertion that it’s permissible to end human lives if they are disabled. It would seem your definition of personhood is intentionally exclusive of those populations which
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you’d like society to have license to do away with.
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Until you respond to my previous tweets, I'm not going too respond to this set from you, although you're wrong that newborns aren't conscious, which is quite funny (of course they are!)
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As far as a measurable quality this is a summary of the best scientific study I’m aware of. Others postulate based on empirical observations and philosophical notions of consciousness
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That doesn't even say what their operational definition of consciousness is. Babies undoubtedly have subjective qualitative experiences.
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So it would seem definitions of consciousness vary substantially making its use as the determinant for personhood quite subjective.
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That makes no sense.
Change the word "consciousness" to "ladidladid" - it doesn't matter. It's the *phenomenon* named, not the name, that matters.
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It’s not the name that’s in question but what consciousness is. Is it; experience, memory, ability to feel pain, reaction to stimuli, awareness of surroundings, self-awareness... every person I encounter who invokes it in debate has a different notion. It’s stumped
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philosophers for millennia, now scientists are beginning to look for and find measurable markers (hence the study I cited). I stand by my assertion that this largely variable philosophical concept is shaky ground for a basis of rights.
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You don't think it's a sufficient basis for a human being to have rights that he is or she has his or her own subjective, qualitative experiences?
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I get confused in these discussions with people who argue that consciousness itself is the thing that should give rights, but then *only* to humans for some reason
Yeah. Here the question is, is consciousness sufficient for personhood (which is related to, but not the same as, rights-holding). But I do think animals have rights.
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