What does becoming (or being) a person entail? Can we be called persons if we are addicts? Do we lose our personhood in addictions whether to substances, to love, or to other people? Can someone who has lost his personhood still be said to be in truth? Is the loss of personhood the degeneration into a lie? Is addiction the only threat to personhood? If there are others, what are they? Is consumerism another threat to personhood? Is becoming a person another phrase for being true to one's own self?
2007-03-26 03:16:47 · 6 answers · asked by psychologist 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
How does personhood emerge? How does an infant become a person?
2007-03-26 03:33:10 · update #1
According to Descartes, "I think, therefore I am". This does not include people who have been subjected to being so-called "vegetables". So your ability to think makes you human.
2007-03-26 03:23:10 · answer #1 · answered by miss_gem_01 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well. Good question.
It is persos the "thing" that A) have social relations (relationships); B) have a history; C) have plans for its future or idea of what its future can be.
It a "stone" could have those things, then it would be called a person. Given that only human beings may have those things, it is clear that only these beings are people.
To, to be a person means to posses those three mentioned things/aspects.
Take care and have a good week...
i e - b r a z i l
2007-03-26 10:24:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be a person, you must have a distinct personality. You must be different from others in some specific respects in a consistent way. It is consistency that gives personality.
Addictions, excessive emotional behavior, utter lack of knowledge and civility, excessive weakness to selfishness or greed or ill-will etc. lead to unacceptable lack of consistency so as to erode the personality.... such people become an object of pity and that is what makes one less than a person.
2007-03-26 10:38:46 · answer #3 · answered by small 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your term "person" isn't the issue..... Anyone that exists can be and IS a person... Being a "person" isn't anything special, its just a living entity existing and taking up space, breathing up valuable oxygen etc etc etc.
Being a "Human being", more specifically a DECENT human being, that's where its at!!! Get to that point then you'll have something special and BE something special!
2007-03-26 13:25:06 · answer #4 · answered by Izen G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is ability to make decision and live with that choice. It is also ability to change, to think with your own head, to have courage to stand up for yourself and to others, not to be afraid of life and it's obstacles. It assumes, in certain way, freedom to decide (but that opens a question: can we really be free at all).
About addictions that you mention: if somebody is addict he can't behave upon his free will. But, what means to be addicted to love? Maybe that is in our real nature. We must interact with others, and they do influence us, and where you can put sharp line between us and others?
2007-03-26 10:48:07 · answer #5 · answered by Jelena L. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
being a person is like being a plant you are what you are with or without out side stimuli
2007-03-26 10:25:18 · answer #6 · answered by henryredwons 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋