Are There Failed Persons? Are You One of Them? | Prof. John O'Callaghan
Aug 29, 2020
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Prof. John O'Callaghan delves into the concept of failed human persons, discussing societal perceptions of personhood and medically assisted killing. He explores moral obligations towards those in vulnerability and the interconnection of personal success with compassion towards others. The podcast challenges misconceptions about failing as a person and emphasizes the importance of caring for those in need for personal fulfillment.
Understanding societal notions of failure is crucial, especially in ethically challenging fields like medicine.
Challenging the view that only cognitive and volitional capacities define personhood leads to a more inclusive understanding.
Deep dives
The Notion of Failed Human Persons
The podcast discusses the concept of failed human persons and the societal perception of failure. It highlights the importance of understanding societal notions of failure, particularly in the medical field, and the ethical considerations surrounding it. The episode emphasizes the growing acceptance and legalization of practices like euthanasia and eugenics, pushing the audience to reflect on their stance towards killing individuals judged as failed persons.
Challenging the Social Psychological Notion of Personhood
The speaker critiques the prevailing social psychological notion of personhood in bioethics and philosophy. The episode delves into the criteria used to define persons, arguing against the view that only individuals showing cognitive and volitional capacities are considered persons. It challenges the idea that some human beings are deemed non-persons, advocating for a more inclusive and fundamental understanding of personhood.
The Moral Depth of Human Interactions
The episode explores the moral character of human interactions, especially in the face of weakness and suffering. It delves into the depth of moral obligations towards those in need, emphasizing the importance of compassion and solidarity. The podcast highlights the significance of engaging with vulnerability and suffering to truly understand the essence of morality and human connection.
Success and Failure as Persons
The podcast concludes with a reflection on success and failure as persons based on interactions with others. It emphasizes the inherent dependence on human relationships and the impact of our actions on friends and vulnerable individuals. The episode stresses that true success as a person is rooted in compassion, mercy, and solidarity with those in need, highlighting the profound connection between human friendship and moral obligations.
This lecture was given at Brown University on February 20, 2020.
For more events and info visit thomisticinstitute.org/events-1.
Prof. John O'Callaghan is the Director of the Jacques Maritain Center at the University of Notre Dame as well as a permanent member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. He served as the past President of the American Catholic Philosophical Association. His areas of scholarly interest include Medieval Philosophy, the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, and Thomistic Metaphysics and Ethics.
Prof. O'Callaghan earned his BS in Physics from St. Norbert College in 1984, an MS in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in 1986, and his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 1996.
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