Im reading a chapter (about abortion) for an ethics class and I came across this passage...
"our position is that we human beings have the special kind of value that makes us subjects of rights in virtue of what we are, not in virtue of some attribute that we acquire some time after we come to be" (Patrick Lee and Robert George)
What do u guys think that means?
2006-10-03 09:52:51 · 13 answers · asked by jaxxdude 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Try picking it apart.
The statement "we human beings have the special kind of value that makes us subjects of rights in virtue of what we are" obviously means that humans have rights simply by virtue of being human.
The statement "not in virtue of some attribute that we acquire some time after we come to be", implies that human rights are NOT acquired later as a result of being born, or anything else.
It seems that these people were saying that the right to live belongs to every human simply by virtue of being human; the right to life is NOT something that one earns later by virtue of passing some stage of development.
2006-10-03 10:04:28 · answer #1 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The key to this argument is not face value. We value human life. All human life is precious. BLAH BLAH.
The traditional argument is when does human life start? Conception? 1st Trimester? With the sperm? What is it?
Your quote is saying the fetus does not have to wait so long before we value its life. Rather it inherently has every human right, from the beginning of its time. You just gotta figure out of they mean conception, birth, or what.
2006-10-03 10:03:44 · answer #2 · answered by aragon333 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think this says that, we are what we are because of our experiences in life - we become someone as we grow up, outside the womb - after we're born. Until that time, we do not have the true attributes of being a human being.
Sounds like these guys were pro-abortion, or pro-right-to-abortion.
2006-10-03 09:55:32 · answer #3 · answered by gatesfam@swbell.net 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My interpetation:
It sounds like they have a pro-life position based on the idea that we have "a special value" (probably referring to soul) inalienable rights, if you will, based on the simple fact that we exist. In this context I believe existing is based on conception.
"some time after we come to be" is referring to after we are brought into the world or born.
In other words these rights and special value are ours before we are born in to this world.
2006-10-03 10:01:48 · answer #4 · answered by MorningStar 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I take this to be a reflection on the poisoning that takes place in our souls as a result of our association to this world and it's abundant perversion. This is an acquired sickness that some catch, and only after exposure.
Prior to this exposure, we are more inherently pure by nature.
2006-10-03 10:02:04 · answer #5 · answered by David S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds to me like he is saying that humans have a special value just because they were conceived. They aren't given a value only after they have become what they are intended to be.....
Wording is very confusing!
2006-10-03 09:55:54 · answer #6 · answered by Nunya 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is saying that even an unborn child has rights to life....that life doesn't start after the child is born....he is a human before he is born, is he not?
2006-10-03 09:56:05 · answer #7 · answered by WitchTwo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That we are born with a sense of what is right and what is wrong. Although , when one is talking about abortion it goes so much further than that.
2006-10-03 10:04:51 · answer #8 · answered by rhonda y 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is saying that humans have a mindset and need to be virtuous just because they are human so they deem that humanity starts at conception.
2006-10-03 10:09:50 · answer #9 · answered by DDav 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he is saying that WE feel entitled to our rights as human beings because we are human beings and that we don't think we should earn rights but that we JUST deserve them.
2006-10-03 10:00:05 · answer #10 · answered by Trish H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋