New Books in Philosophy Ladelle McWhorter, "Unbecoming Persons: The Rise and Demise of the Modern Moral Self" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Oct 20, 2025
Ladelle McWhorter, a thought-provoking author and philosopher, dives into her groundbreaking book exploring the concept of personhood. She discusses how modern interpretations of personhood have roots in historical and philosophical shifts, particularly during the early modern period. McWhorter emphasizes the role of personhood in injustices like slavery and corporate dominance. She advocates for 'active belonging' as a way to redefine relationships and move beyond traditional notions of ownership, suggesting a more communal and responsive approach to life.
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Dryer Protest Revealed Moral Defeat
- Ladelle McWhorter describes refusing to use her electric dryer to avoid supporting Dominion Energy and then giving up in defeat.
- That moment crystallized her crisis: feeling unable to be a 'good person' within systems of corporate power.
How 'Person' Became Modern Individualhood
- McWhorter traces 'person' changing meaning in 17th-century England by linking Roman law and Trinitarian theology to Locke.
- That fusion created a modern personhood that individualizes responsibility while masking ownership and power inequalities.
Personhood Links Action To Ownership
- Locke's personhood ties moral accountability to ownership of actions and permits claims to property via labor.
- This frame makes individuals owners of acts but leaves structural ownership and power concentrated elsewhere.
