Human Personhood: Substantialist, Deontological and Pragmatist Views

Summary

This document compares three views on when a human being counts as a person and what dignity means. The substantialist view says human dignity is present from conception to natural death. The deontological view ties personhood to consciousness and rationality. The pragmatist view treats dignity as a social agreement based on consciousness and autonomy. Students learn the main differences between these positions.

Key points

The substantialist view holds that human life and the body make a person from beginning to end, with an ontological dignity that cannot be reduced.
The deontological view holds that life becomes a person only when conditions such as consciousness or rationality are present.
The deontological view places the essence of a human being in rationality rather than in the body.
The pragmatist view holds that there is no ontological dignity, only moral dignity based on the evaluation of others.
The pragmatist view grants recognition to beings with consciousness and autonomy, and excludes those who have not reached or have lost these conditions.

Test yourself

Defining Human Personhood: Philosophical Perspectives

The status of the embryo as a human person involves defining and differentiating between the concepts of personality, personhood, and utilitarian pragmatism.

1. Substantialist Vision (Personalism)

The substantialist perspective asserts that human biological life and bodily presence constitute a person, possessing intrinsic value from beginning to end. Human dignity is present from conception until natural death; it is an ontological dignity that holds absolute value, which cannot be reduced for any reason. This value confers a moral dignity, serving as the basic principle of human morality, requiring the recognition, defense, and legal protection of human life. This integral view of human beings is the only approach that guarantees full respect for human dignity.

2. Deontological Vision (Personism)

The deontological perspective argues that human biological life and the body become a person only when specific conditions are met, such as consciousness, rationality, or the capacity to prioritize pleasure over pain. Under this view, biological life gains moral recognition and ontological dignity only when these conditions are present. This Cartesian anthropology suggests that the essence of a human being is contained in rationality rather than the body. Consequently, if rationality has not yet developed or has been lost due to aging or disease, this view suggests there is no moral obligation to recognize an absolute value of human dignity.

3. Pragmatist Vision (Utilitarian-Liberal)

The pragmatist perspective argues that questioning human dignity based on the presence of a human body lacks real meaning. Instead, human dignity is viewed as a subjective assessment—a social agreement developed over time for self-defense. In this framework:

There is no ontological dignity, only moral dignity.
Dignity is based on an evaluation of others.
Recognition is granted to those with consciousness and autonomy, while those who have not yet reached or have lost these conditions are excluded.

This neo-empiricist approach situates the moral recognition of human dignity solely on the presence of certain external, empirical conditions.

FAQ

What does the substantialist view say about human dignity?

It says human dignity is present from conception until natural death. This ontological dignity has absolute value and cannot be reduced for any reason.

What is the pragmatist view of dignity?

It treats dignity as a subjective assessment and a social agreement developed over time for self-defence. It holds that there is only moral dignity, based on the evaluation of others.

What does the deontological view say if rationality is lost?

The text says that, in this view, there is then no moral obligation to recognize an absolute value of human dignity.