Is an anacelphic baby a person?: Philosophy Forums

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Is an anacelphic baby a person?

Ypnos
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Posted 10/29/09 - 07:25 AM:	#41
Weird, I was reading this ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeands...nov/06/weekend.kevintoolis ) today about a professor called Peter Singer and asking myself these very questions. Is it ethical to end the life (trying to use a neutral description) of an infant if it is born without a brain? Is it ethical to bring a child to full term when tests show that it will have an extremely low quality of life? I guess that depends on whose ethics you follow. Obviously one's own life experiences will dictate one's stance on the matter and that's where the question becomes argument, I believe. P.S. Interesting to see that someone whose monicker contains a series of letters and numbers (i.e. gibberish), is criticising another person's monicker for containing a barely noticeable grammatical error. Does this make "baden511" feel that their opinion is the only valid one here? Looking at their rather aggressive opining, it would seem so.

To Mega Therion
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1 of 1 people found this post helpful Posted 10/29/09 - 08:11 AM:	#42
I honestly don't see the issue here. One doesn't have to be a raging, extremist Singerian (I know I'm not) to see that such a child is not a person in no meaningful sense. It is missing most of its brain, and will never be capable of anything we usually associate with being a person - though, self awareness, the ability to interact with other persons, etc. For all practical purposes it is a lump of tissue, no different in ethical status than, say, my leg. Killing it is no different than cutting of a gangrenous leg. Honestly, I just don't see how anyone could consistently hold otherwise. Perhaps it's an emotional reaction to the use of the term 'baby' in the OP? Edited by To Mega Therion on 10/29/09 - 08:20 AM

baden511
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Posted 10/29/09 - 04:56 PM:	#43
Ypnos wrote: Does this make "baden511" feel that their opinion is the only valid one here? Looking at their rather aggressive opining, it would seem so. No it doesn't. In a forum you are sometimes called upon to defend/promote your opinion, and at times you do this strongly. I think most people can handle that. P.S. If you read my response to Hanover, you'll see I already conceded that the spelling reference was irrelevant.
"Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." Moses (Numbers 31:17-18) "Do not harm little children" - Satanic Bible. Rule no.9 "And the prize is: Eternal heavenly bliss. Or a peanut. Your choice." - The Divine Game Show Host

Cuthbert
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Posted 10/30/09 - 12:27 AM:	#44
To Mega Therion: - "For all practical purposes it's a lump of tissue." But is the value of others a function of practical purposes? If it isn't, then the practical purposes - e.g. the abilities and faculties - of the baby are not the only relevant factor. I think it could be quite consistent to have my tooth pulled or my gangrenous leg amputated and yet think it wrong not to keep alive an anencephalic baby as long as it's possible. Firstly, it's my tooth and my leg. I couldn't consent to you pulling your tooth. The baby's life isn't mine, just as your tooth isn't mine. Secondly, there's life after necessary amputation, and it's usually a longer and better life than there would have been without amputation. There's no life after death that we can rely on for practical reasoning in this life. Personally, I'd probably let the baby die. But I don't think people who disagree entirely lack good arguments.

baden511
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Posted 10/30/09 - 02:05 AM:	#45
Ypnos wrote: P.S. Interesting to see that someone whose monicker contains a series of letters and numbers (i.e. gibberish), is criticising another person's monicker for containing a barely noticeable grammatical error. Does this make "baden511" feel that their opinion is the only valid one here? Looking at their rather aggressive opining, it would seem so. By the way Ypnos, it wasn’t a grammatical error, it was a spelling error (I grow weary of those who don’t know what grammar is). Also, to anyone else who objects to my posts being ‘too aggressive’ or who perhaps thinks that only the dry-balls philosophical style of Kant is worthy of use in these forums, let it be known that I go along with almost the entire philosophical community in ranking Nietzsche as one of the greatest philosophers ever, and he makes me look like a pussycat. So my suggestion to those of you of such a fragile bent is to go buy yourself a pair of cojones, grease them up and come jump in this dirty pool called life with the rest of us. You know it makes sense. Edited by baden511 on 10/30/09 - 02:13 AM
"Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." Moses (Numbers 31:17-18) "Do not harm little children" - Satanic Bible. Rule no.9 "And the prize is: Eternal heavenly bliss. Or a peanut. Your choice." - The Divine Game Show Host

Kant Chocula
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Posted 10/30/09 - 02:17 AM:	#46
baden511 wrote: Also, to anyone else who objects to my posts being ‘too aggressive’ or who perhaps thinks that only the dry-balls philosophical style of Kant is worthy of use in these forums, let it be known that I go along with almost the entire philosophical community in ranking Nietzsche as one of the greatest philosophers ever, and he makes me look like a pussycat. Not that I particularly care about your combativeness, but I don't think you've earned the right to argue like Nietzsche. Also consider that if you tried to publish a philosophical work as prosaic as Fred wrote, you'd never even make it to peer review. What I guess I'm saying is, comparing yourself to Nietzsche is not warranted and, perhaps, a wee bit pompous.
A categorically delicious part of your noumenal breakfast.

baden511
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Posted 10/30/09 - 02:42 AM:	#47
Kant Chocula wrote: I don't think you've earned the right to argue like Nietzsche. Look Kant_Chocula (haha, by the way) everyone in this forum has a right to use any style they want as long as it doesn't breach forum guidelines. Secondly, I didn't compare myself to Nietzsche, except to say he makes me look like a pussycat in terms of aggressiveness, so your petty attempts at insults aren't even relevant. In any case, I'll put that down to you perhaps taking offence at my reference to Kant. For some reason I think you may be a fan. Edited by baden511 on 10/30/09 - 02:47 AM
"Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." Moses (Numbers 31:17-18) "Do not harm little children" - Satanic Bible. Rule no.9 "And the prize is: Eternal heavenly bliss. Or a peanut. Your choice." - The Divine Game Show Host

Kant Chocula
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Posted 10/30/09 - 03:11 AM:	#48
baden511 wrote: Look Kant_Chocula (haha, by the way) everyone in this forum has a right to use any style they want as long as it doesn't breach forum guidelines. Secondly, I didn't compare myself to Nietzsche, except to say he makes me look like a pussycat in terms of aggressiveness, so your petty attempts at insults aren't even relevant. In any case, I'll put that down to you perhaps taking offence at my reference to Kant. For some reason I think you may be a fan. Alright, now there is some good interaction occurring. First, I'd like to thank you for finding the humor in my user name (my alternative was The Philosoraptor). Second, you left out the commas that should occur on either side of my user name. So now I can legitimately accuse you of poor grammar (I am sure you'll get the chance to correct my grammar soon). Third, you spelled "offense" wrong (unless you're actually using British English). Fourth, your second sentence is aesthetically unpleasing. It is a prime example of a run-on sentence. I would recommend that you remove the comma after "aggressiveness" and replace it with a period. Of course, you would then want to capitalize "so" in order to start a new sentence in the proper fashion. Fifth, any comparison to Nietzsche used to justify your behavior is pompous. We simply are not in his league; there are no legitimate comparisons to make. I'm not saying the predicate "pompous" is a bad thing. Consider the complete display of pomposity in which I am currently engaged. Lastly, I don't particularly like Kant all that much. I just thought the user name was really funny. This is not to say I under appreciate the historical importance of Kant. I just don't find myself attracted to his writing style. Anyway, I hope I provided you with some entertainment. Have a great day.
A categorically delicious part of your noumenal breakfast.

baden511
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Posted 10/30/09 - 03:25 AM:	#49
Kant Chocula wrote: Alright, now there is some good interaction occurring. First, I'd like to thank you for finding the humor in my user name (my alternative was The Philosoraptor). Second, you left out the commas that should occur on either side of my user name. So now I can legitimately accuse you of poor grammar (I am sure you'll get the chance to correct my grammar soon). Third, you spelled "offense" wrong (unless you're actually using British English). Fourth, your second sentence is aesthetically unpleasing. It is a prime example of a run-on sentence. I would recommend that you remove the comma after "aggressiveness" and replace it with a period. Of course, you would then want to capitalize "so" in order to start a new sentence in the proper fashion. Fifth, any comparison to Nietzsche used to justify your behavior is pompous. We simply are not in his league; there are no legitimate comparisons to make. I'm not saying the predicate "pompous" is a bad thing. Consider the complete display of pomposity in which I am currently engaged. Lastly, I don't particularly like Kant all that much. I just thought the user name was really funny. This is not to say I under appreciate the historical importance of Kant. I just don't find myself attracted to his writing style. Anyway, I hope I provided you with some entertainment. Have a great day. I'm from Ireland, so I do use British English or just English as I call it, and I'm starting to think I'm going to need a pint of Guinness soon after all this ding-dong. The only thing you're right about above is the run-on sentence. For that, to all, I sincerely apologize and that is probably the first and last apology I'm going to make here so please relish it. To be fair, you did at least make an attempt to be entertaining there and your points are not entirely lost on me, pompous as I am. To finish, please allow me to quote Joyce who is another person I am not comparing myself to: “A man's errors are his portals of discovery.” Have a great day too.
"Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." Moses (Numbers 31:17-18) "Do not harm little children" - Satanic Bible. Rule no.9 "And the prize is: Eternal heavenly bliss. Or a peanut. Your choice." - The Divine Game Show Host

Kant Chocula
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Posted 10/30/09 - 03:33 AM:	#50
I only do this because I have a paper to write. I am avoiding it. I have been in jest the entire time I've posted. I am also quite slap-happy right about now. Paper due in two and one half hours from now. Seven pages to go.
A categorically delicious part of your noumenal breakfast.

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