Date of Graduation
8-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Philosophy (MA)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Philosophy
Advisor/Mentor
Lee, Robert
Committee Member
Purdy, Ashey
Second Committee Member
McMullen, Amanda
Keywords
Good personhood; Humanhood; Moral philosophy; Personhood
Abstract
This thesis centers around two philosophical problems: the concept of a person and the process by which one becomes a morally good person. Drawing on the works of philosophers such as Harry Frankfurt, Strawson, and A.J. Ayer, it begins with an inquiry into what it means to be a person. It argues that while humanhood, with its rational capacities, is a contingent rather than a necessary condition, it can serve as an accurate predictor of personhood. The thesis posits that personhood is an achievement rather than an inherent state, facilitated by interactions within a social framework that refine these rational capacities. Examples such as feral humans, who only achieve personhood through integration into society, illustrate this dynamic process. Furthermore, the thesis contends that becoming a morally good person is not an inherent trait, challenging the nativist view. Instead, it proposes that moral personhood is cultivated through active engagement with moral frameworks within community norms, insofar as they advance the ideal interactive environment and collective wellbeing.
Citation
Tivane, T. (2024). What is a Person? How Does One Become a Morally Good Person? The Intuitive View!. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5469