| Yes there possibly are, and there defiantly could be | | | | the suit of flesh you inhabit then it seems logical that |
| non-human persons. | | | | one must only have the characteristics of |
| Firstly to establish non-human persons I feel I should | | | | personhood to be a person. Nothing else matters. |
| first clarify what a person is. It's very hard to define | | | | Again, as I stated above I don't believe there are |
| a person as to many it's a matter of perspective. | | | | non-human persons, answering the first half of the |
| Some believe that a person is simply being a member | | | | initial question. But the second half stating, 'could' |
| of the human race. Some believe that it's something | | | | there be non-human persons needs to be addressed. |
| more; emotion, consciousness, intelligence and many | | | | I believe there are two types of non-human persons |
| other aspects which set persons apart from | | | | - non-human animals, and non-human machines. So far |
| non-persons. Some believe that it is not our physical | | | | I have moved logically to state that personhood is |
| body, but more our mind, our undisputed greatness | | | | gained by obtaining certain attributes. Therefore, it |
| as a superior form of life apart from the animals. | | | | would be ridiculous to say that all animals or machines |
| Some believe it is our possession of a soul, but for | | | | are not persons. I think that at the moment there |
| now that notion will be left alongside the Bible, witch | | | | are no non-person animals or non-person machines, |
| burnings and all other out dated, ancient, barbaric | | | | but that does not mean in the future they may not |
| notions. But enough about Christianity. | | | | exist. |
| If you believe like me, then a person is not a mere | | | | I want to move on to non-human animals specifically, |
| physical body branded a human being. But is the | | | | firstly, I do not believe non-human animal persons |
| collection of certain specific and unique attributes | | | | exist. However, I do see the potential for them to at |
| within ones mind. Traits such as the ability to both | | | | some point exist in the future. Certain animals display |
| have emotion and show it. Exist as a conscious | | | | certain signs of personhood, for example Great Apes |
| entity, and display a certain level of both intelligence, | | | | show use of basic tools, as does the Bonobo |
| awareness and communication. If these are the | | | | chimpanzee. However, though they show the |
| characteristics a person must display then indeed the | | | | potential for personhood, and certain degrees of it. |
| vast overwhelming majority of humans are of course | | | | They are nowhere near being considered true |
| persons. But persons that have lost these particular | | | | persons by our standard of the term. On the other |
| aspects are still humans - but non-persons. | | | | hand, the fact that we can say that they display |
| As it appears possible to indeed have a non-person | | | | certain degrees of personhood implies they are part |
| human, it seems the next logical step that a | | | | of the way there. That though, admittedly there are |
| non-human person is indeed possible - and why not? | | | | currently no non-human animal persons, there is the |
| A non-human person by my understanding of a | | | | possibility of such. There could be aliens on other |
| defined person, does not at all need to have | | | | planets that are highly intelligent, more advanced and |
| membership of the human race. All it needs is to fulfill | | | | superior to us in every way, surely they are all |
| the categories stated above. However that is far | | | | persons as we are? If not superior persons. |
| easier said then done, as merely determining if a | | | | Again with addressing non-human animal persons, I |
| non-human has consciousness is an immense | | | | believe quite similarly, that though there are no |
| challenge. | | | | non-human machine/computer persons there is again |
| Non-person animals, In my opinion do not exist. Now | | | | the possibility. Since I have established that gaining |
| this isn't because these animals are not humans, but | | | | personhood is by acquiring certain attributes, then it |
| because the characteristics which turn a non-person | | | | seems computers simply have to gain these |
| into a person are not developed enough. There are | | | | attributes to become persons. A very difficult task. |
| of course animals that have certain aspects of | | | | Again as with animals, I believe that although there |
| personhood developed - but again not at the level | | | | are no machine/computer persons, there is however |
| which distinguishes a person from a non-person. For | | | | the potential for persons. This answers the second |
| example the Black Leicester Longwool Sheep can | | | | half of the original question. Yes there COULD be |
| identify and retain individual faces, but it does not | | | | non-human persons, I am not at all stating that there |
| have developed communication skills nor is it believed | | | | are, but again there is the potential for such to exist |
| to experience emotion. It has some aspects, but not | | | | now or in the future. Some people may even |
| everything that is necessary. | | | | suggest humans, animals and all life are in fact |
| Some people, humans, believe in the contrary. There | | | | machines. Where as a car uses petrol, a mixture of |
| are two general standpoint; firstly there are | | | | hydrocarbons, we use a mixture of carbohydrates |
| absolutists that think there are non-persons that are | | | | and proteins, the car is made of metal we are made |
| animals or machines, or persons that are humans. | | | | of bones, the car has paint to protect underneath |
| There are no degrees of personhood for animals. | | | | and we have skin. Although we are constructed of |
| There is no belief that a great ape is half way to | | | | difference elements and compounds we are still |
| being a person, and an ant nowhere near the | | | | machines just as a car, and if we as machines can |
| pedestal of personhood - they're not persons at all. | | | | think and understand and be - why can't machines |
| The second is that while some animals may indeed | | | | that why create not have these qualities? |
| show the characteristics of personhood they haven't | | | | Peter Singer, a distinguished, yes controversial |
| and never will reach that level. Not only that, but | | | | philosopher has an approach to personhood which |
| indeed the word human is intrinsic in the word | | | | many view as extreme. His general belief system is |
| person, and no matter how close an animal may, get | | | | that there are some animals that have a greater right |
| they will never be a person. | | | | to life then some humans. This generally means that |
| In my opinion I believe it is true to state there are no | | | | there are apes, or advanced animals, that he believes |
| non-human persons. However I believe there is | | | | have a greater right to life then some severely |
| indeed the possibility of such, maybe in the future or | | | | mentally handicapped human beings. He sees a |
| maybe yet undiscovered. Just because there is | | | | greater amount of personhood in certain animals then |
| nothing at the moment which we would considered | | | | certain humans, and I can totally understand this train |
| to be non-human persons, doesn't mean in the future | | | | of thought. Surely there is more value in a healthy, |
| there wouldn't be such persons. For one example, in | | | | highly intelligent ape that has a basic grasp or |
| what may be the very distant future. What if i was | | | | language and knows it exists. Over a dying, |
| in a very serious car crash, and my body was totally | | | | unintelligent human, that has not the intellect to |
| destroyed. Then via a highly advanced medical | | | | speak, does not know it exists, has no memory of |
| method, my body was cloned from my DNA, and my | | | | life before being in this state and is soon to die. The |
| brain quickly implanted into that body. It's not just | | | | situation can be paralleled by saying, would you rather |
| the same brain or a copy of me, it's my | | | | save a healthy, intelligent sixteen year old boy, or a |
| consciousness inside of my cloned body. Nothing | | | | dying, mentally handicapped 16 year old boy. We |
| about me has changed, apart from my physical body. | | | | would all pick the first one as choosing it gives the |
| I believe everyone would considered I was still me, | | | | greater potential for a fulfilling life, we would place |
| and still a person. This is not where the body has | | | | more value on the first boy over the second. Singer |
| been cloned along with an identical mind - which | | | | has a similar situation, apart from they are not both |
| would mean a different conscioussness, even if the | | | | humans, however, he believes that membership of |
| personality is the same. It is my actual memories and | | | | the human race should not alone grant the right to |
| being inside of a body that though is not mine | | | | life, and that in fact certain animals should exist |
| orignally, is a literal, exact copy of mine. | | | | whereas the certain human should not. |
| I believe the conclusion for most people is that I am | | | | To conclude, I do not believe that there are currently |
| still the same person. Then as a progressive step, it | | | | non-human persons. But that does not mean there is |
| only seems that it is the brain or more exactly the | | | | not the non-human person potential, and that in fact |
| consciousness of me is that which makes me a | | | | that there could be non-human persons in the future, |
| person. Then, if you indeed believe that it is your | | | | or yet undiscovered. Whether these are non-human |
| mind that that makes you a person, and not merely | | | | animals or non-human persons, only time will tell. |