un: xspire

[synthsized]

At what point does something get the right to be called a person? What do they need to do to deserve that?

Has anyone ever thought about it?

Comments

un: araneae

[silksoul]

[ Oh boy. ]

Personhood isn't something you earn or deserve through effort. It's inherent.

[synthsized]

[Oh boy is right!]

Do you think everything that's a person deserves to be one?

un: talonted

[medaling]

a person dies

something that isn't a person just ceases to be

[synthsized]

Interesting distinction.

But does that mean you'll only find out when they're gone?

un: ornithology

[hawkwardness]

Maybe when they think of themselves as a person. Isn't that enough?

[synthsized]

I don't know. Does that mean you can stop being a person if you stop thinking of yourself as one?

un: weaseling

[deuteranope]

[huh, that sure is a question, isn't it

...]

yo skynet, this you?

[synthsized]

Depends on who's asking.

un: werther

[imitationsoul]

Lots of people have thought about it. Philosophers have been around for a good while, you know?

But if you ask me, a person is an entity that can hurt and be hurt - just for the pleasure of pain or inflicting it.

[synthsized]

Philosophers are jackasses with too much time on their hand.

So only sadomasochists are people.

un: madlad

[schmott_guy]

There's a million definitions about what makes a person that involve metaphysical variables like souls and love, but that's not much of an answer for a scientist. I've always felt that if you can discuss abstract concepts with it then it might as well be a person.

[synthsized]

Abstract concepts like what?

UN: Usernamehere

[aibolition]

A person is whatever some jackass decides is a person at the time. You can think you're a person but if some asshole sees you as a monster or tool to use, that's that. You might as well think of yourself as whatever you want. You could even be a bigger freak and call yourself an animal. Freedom of choice is fun like that.

[synthsized]

I suppose that's another vote for a person being whoever thinks they're one.

Maybe that's as much of a consensus as I could hope for.

[imitationsoul]

Though there is something to be said for names and address-ability in the power dynamics of the world (see: Judith Butler "Excitable Speech"), I can't agree with the thought that someone else gets to define your entire being.

Society is always trying to mold you one way or another, but the mold will forever be incomplete and its hold over a person is rooted in their very minds.

Not that I would discredit being in touch with your animal instincts and labeling yourself accordingly.

[ Just some strong feelings about being dehumanized around here. ]

UN: deltadeath

[trademark_skull]

Living things are supposed to have souls. So I guess that's one distinction if someone is a person or not.

[Probably.]

[synthsized]

So only things with souls are people...

I see.

UN: SevenVoyages

[conquerorofwaves]

If you can think, if you can feel emotions - and those things are real despite what anyone says, that's a person.

Screw anyone that says you're not a person because you don't look right, or don't have the right-looking soul, or what the hell ever. So, I guess? You do you, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[synthsized]

Thinking and feeling...

Is that truly enough? Some people believe animals can think and feel. Do they count as people, too?

un: jaybird

[nor_iron_bars]

i swear to god i figured out the answer to this one last time i was high, but then i forgot like two seconds later.

if i'm gonna be honest, i got no clue how you'd tell for sure.
could fuck around and see if you come up with a soul, i guess?
or do a brainscan.
but honestly if they might be a person it's probably better to just assume they are.
worst-case scenario, you get scammed by a really good chatbot.
best-case scenario, you avoid committing war crimes.
it's just smarter to play the odds there.

not here

[deuteranope]

["worst-case scenario, you get scammed by a really good chatbot."

laughs hollowly, alone]

un: hazel

[preppedandloaded]

I didn't know someone had to deserve being a person.

[synthsized]

A lot of people seem to agree with you.

un: himawari

[taiyounoyou]

I don't think it's something that you have to earn or deserve. It's just something that is?

[synthsized]

Something innate, that you're born with?

UN: Epicyon

[heromedal]

'Person' is non-quantifiable and unfalsifiable. The question doesn't make sense in itself.

[synthsized]

That's the entire reason the question's being asked!

UN: Stormflower

[nevernoaction]

I would think they have to be self aware. I haven't given it that much thought.

[synthsized]

You should think about it. How do you know you're a person otherwise?