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Single Idea 20285
[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights
]
Full Idea
If to have a right one must have the ability to desire that to which one has a right, then to have a right to life one must be able to desire one's own continued existence.
Gist of Idea
If a right entails having the relevant desire, many creatures might have no right to life
Source
Peter Singer (Practical Ethics [1979], 07)
Book Ref
Singer,Peter: 'Practical Ethics' [CUP 1989], p.141
A Reaction
The unborn, small infants, and persons in comas may well lack the relevant desire (at least consciously - arguably even a plant has a non-conscious 'desire' or drive for life). The idea that a right entails a conscious desire seems daft.
Related Idea
Idea 4668
You can't have a right to something you can't desire, so a foetus has no 'right' to life [Glover]
The
16 ideas
from Peter Singer
21993
|
Materialist history says we are subject to incomprehensible forces
[Singer]
|
21997
|
In Marxism the state will be superseded
[Singer]
|
20276
|
Conflict of rules might be avoided by greater complexity, or by a hierarchy of rules
[Singer]
|
20277
|
Equality of interests is a minimal principle, not implying equal treatment
[Singer]
|
20278
|
'Marginal utility' says something is more useful if it is in short supply
[Singer]
|
20279
|
Equality of opportunity unfairly rewards those lucky enough to have great ability
[Singer]
|
20281
|
Why should I do anything for posterity? What has posterity ever done for me?
[Singer]
|
20282
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The sanctity of a human life depends either on being of our species, or on being a person
[Singer]
|
20283
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Killing a chimp is worse than killing a human too defective to be a person
[Singer]
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20284
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Why should a potential person have the rights of an actual person?
[Singer]
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20285
|
If a right entails having the relevant desire, many creatures might have no right to life
[Singer]
|
20287
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If 49% of the population can be wrong, so can 51%
[Singer]
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20288
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You can't condemn violent revolution without assessing the evils it prevents
[Singer]
|
20286
|
Following an inner voice for morality is irresponsible in a rational agent
[Singer]
|
20289
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Ethics is universalisable - it must involve an impartial and universal view of things
[Singer]
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20290
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Psychopaths may just be bored, because they cannot participate in normal emotional life
[Singer]
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