Ch. 24: Richard Taylor, “The Anattā Doctrine and Personal Identity”

1. What are the FOUR possibilities regarding what a PERSON is, according to Taylor?
2. Present The Linguistic Argument that a Person is NOT identical to her Body. (4 steps)
3. Explain Taylor’s reply to this Linguistic Argument.
4. Present The Metaphysical Duplicate Descriptions Argument that a Person is NOT identical to her Body. (5 steps)
5. Present The Metaphysical “Matter Can’t Think” Argument that a Person is NOT identical to her Body. (3 steps)
6. Explain Taylor’s reply (a 4-step counterargument) to both Metaphysical Arguments.
7. Explain the first mistake Taylor says his opponent (the person who believes in a non-physical “inner” self) makes in talking about having sensations, desires, etc.
8. Explain the second mistake Taylor says his opponent makes (an invalid 3-step argument).
9. Present Taylor’s Argument that Some Physical Bodies Can Think. (4 steps)

Ch. 39: Hanfling, “Machines as Persons?”

1. What problem does Hanfling see in asking whether machines could think or be persons?
2. What problem does Hanfling see in asking whether robots could be people?
3. What makes the difference between a person and a nonperson, according to Hanfling?
4. Explain what “artifactism” is, according to Hanfling.
5. Present Hanfling’s Wittgensteinian Argument against Artifactism.

Stephen Mulhall, “Picturing the Human (Body and Soul): A Reading of Blade Runner” and the film Blade Runner

1. Are Nexus 6 Replicants artificial-persons?  Defend your view in an essay.  Specify the different senses of ‘person’ discussed by Rorty that apply.
2. If Nexus 6 Replicants are NOT a-persons, is Deckard morally justified in “retiring” them?  Explain your judgment.
3. If Nexus 6 Replicants ARE persons, is Deckard morally justified in “retiring” them?  Explain your judgment.
4. Rachael (the Nexus 6 Replicant portrayed by Sean Young) seems to engage the sympathy and respect of Deckard.  If so, then is Deckard right to consider Rachael an a-person?
5. Why does Roy (the Nexus 6 Replicant portrayed by Rutger Hauer) save Deckard’s life?  Is Roy’s act merciful?  If so, is this a good reason to consider Roy to be a person?
6. Are Leon, Pris, and Roy friends?  Is friendship only possible among persons?
7. Evaluate Tyrell and Roy on moral grounds.  Who is more admirable and who is more despicable?  Explain your judgment.
8. What question does Mulhall say the film Blade Runner is explicitly concerned with (obsessed with)?
9. What does Mulhall say is the GOAL of the film Blade Runner?
10. What understanding of the relationship between the human mind (or soul) and the human body does M say Blade Runner rejects?
11. What does M say about the emotional maturity of Replicants and of Bryant?
12. What makes M. think that acknowledging the humanity of another is important?  How does this play out with Deckard and Rachael?
13. Describe Tyrell’s view (according to M.) of how one lives one’s life authentically.  What are the two ingredients of authentic living?
14. Explain M’s account of how authenticity and mortality are related in Blade Runner.  Present the 8-step argument (that Dr Stephens wrote on the board) contrasting Deckard’s attitude toward death with Roy’s attitude toward death during the scene near the end of the film in which Roy chases Deckard through the Bradbury building.
15. What does Roy think follows from someone not being able to play?
16. What does M say acknowledging someone else’s death involves?
17. In the second section of Mulhall’s essay (What Becomes of People on Film?) what does M say BR is a film about?
18. Describe at least FOUR different things in the film that M says are used as a, or represent a kind of, CAMERA.

Ch. 34: Midgley, “Persons and Non-Persons”

1. Explain Midgley’s criticism of Judge Doi’s ruling in the Le Vasseur case.
2. What three things does Midgley cite as examples of nonhuman persons?
3. What is the word ‘person’ in origin mean?
4. State the definition of ‘person’ that Midgley quotes from the Oxford Dictionary.
5. What examples of human non-persons does Midgley cite?
6. What question does Midgley think the question ‘Who is a person?’ not like?  What question is it much more like?
7. How is C. S. Lewis’ word hnau used in the novel Midgley mentions?
8. Explain Midgley’s criticism of Kant's view on cruelty to animals.
9. What does Midgley think makes creatures our fellow beings, entitled to basic consideration?
10. What does Midgley say about articulate apes and the Government?
11. What three powers are relevant to higher moral consideration nearer that due to humans?
12. Explain Midgley’s position on the moral claims of intelligent computers.

Ch. 42: Boyd Group “The moral status of non-human primates: Are apes persons?”

1. Historically, how have children, women, slaves, and members of other ethnic groups been conceived relative to adult, land-owning Euro-American men?
2. What is said about the view that all and only members of the species Homo sapiens are persons?
3. Compare and contrast Dennett’s views of persons, intentionality, and linguistic capacity with those of Gómez.
4. Present Gómez’ argument [reconstructed in 5-steps in class] for the position that apes are persons.
5. Contrast Gaita’s view of animals and friendship with that of Smuts.  Why does Smuts think that Safi is a person?
6. Explain the difference between moral agents and moral patients.  GIve examples of each.  Explain the relationship between moral agents and moral patients.

Nicholas Wade, "Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior"

1. According to primatologist Frans de Waal, in what can the roots of morality be seen?
2. In what does human morality begin, according to de Waal?
3. State the four kinds of behavior that are the basis of sociality.
4. How does de Waal define morality?  Who possesses morality and who doesn't, according to de Waal?
5. According to de Waal, how is a sense of community related to morality?  On his view what provided this sense of community in evolution?