2006-06-22

What makes a person, anyway?

Really. The going definition seems to be the same as for 'obscenity' - "I know it when I see it."

But, humans seem to have a startlingly poor track record for determining the personhood of another being. Particularly those who are unusual or somehow 'beyond the pale' for the society of the person doing the deciding. (Ever notice how people who can't talk are just assumed to not think, too?)

So. How do you define a person? And how much of that definition is possible to measure externally?

- Kathru


(Also: Thanks to those of you who responded to my last post; I haven't been able to articulate individual replies.)

(no subject)

Right, so Newbie promised you guys some backstory, so here it is...

Read more... )

~Pip