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    If 'person' refers to a constructed narrative rather than... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→The concept of 'person' ascribes a special dignity that the concept of 'individual' does not.

    If 'person' refers to a constructed narrative rather than a metaphysically distinct entity, the dignity ascribed to it is grounded in social utility, not in the concept itself.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Personhood criteria (rationality, moral agency) are culturally variable conventions, not discoverable metaphysical facts.
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    • 2.Dignity assignments historically correlate with social utility: slaves, women, disabled people excluded when deemed economically expendable.
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    • 3.If personhood were intrinsic, dignity couldn't coherently be granted, revoked, or disputed across societies and time periods.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Social utility is itself derivative—societies grant dignity to unprofitable members (children, elderly), suggesting non-utility foundations.
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    • 2.Narrative construction requires a constructor; explaining personhood narratives requires accounting for the agent creating them.
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    • 3.Grounding dignity in utility makes it contingent and revocable, but most ethical frameworks treat dignity as inalienable by definition.
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    Philosophy of Language1 linkedPersonal Identity1 linked

    Related

    Dignity assignments historically correlate with social utility: slaves, women, d...Grounding dignity in utility makes it contingent and revocable, but most ethical...If personhood were intrinsic, dignity couldn't coherently be granted, revoked, o...Narrative construction requires a constructor; explaining personhood narratives ...
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    Personhood criteria (rationality, moral agency) are culturally variable conventi...Social utility is itself derivative—societies grant dignity to unprofitable memb...The concept of 'person' ascribes a special dignity that the concept of 'individu...

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