Record Nr.

UNINA9910784444403321

Autore

DeGrazia David

Titolo

Human identity and bioethics / / David DeGrazia [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa


Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2005

ISBN


1-107-14670-4
1-280-45811-9
0-511-61448-9
0-511-18161-2
0-511-12577-1
0-511-19844-2
0-511-29934-6
0-511-12491-0

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xi, 300 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Disciplina

179/.7

Soggetti

Identity (Philosophical concept)

Identification

Human beings

Bioethics

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction -- Human persons: numerical identity and essence -- Human persons: narrative identity and self-creation -- Identity, what we are, and the definition of death -- Advance directives, dementia, and the someone else problem -- Enhancement technologies and self-creation -- Prenatal identity: genetic interventions, reproductive choices.

Sommario/riassunto

When philosophers address personal identity, they usually explore numerical identity: what are the criteria for a person's continuing existence? When non-philosophers address personal identity, they often have in mind narrative identity: Which characteristics of a particular person are salient to her self-conception? This book develops accounts of both senses of identity, arguing that both are normatively important, and is unique in its exploration of a range of issues in

bioethics through the lens of identity. Defending a biological view of our numerical identity and a framework for understanding narrative identity, DeGrazia investigates various issues for which considerations of identity prove critical: the definition of death; the authority of advance directives in cases of severe dementia; the use of enhancement technologies; prenatal genetic interventions; and certain types of reproductive choices. He demonstrates the power of personal identity theory to illuminate issues in bioethics as they bring philosophical theory to life.