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  • © 1996

Persons, Animals, and Fetuses

An Essay in Practical Ethics

Part of the book series: Philosophical Studies Series (PSSP, volume 66)

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Table of contents (19 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Problems and Persons

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Introduction

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 2-8
    3. The Central Feature of Personhood

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 9-15
  3. Theory and Justification

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 16-21
    2. Moral Knowledge

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 22-35
    3. Outline of a Basic Moral Theory

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 36-57
    4. The Difficulties of Applying Moral Principles

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 58-67
    5. Solving Moral Problems

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 68-76
  4. What Makes an Individual a Person

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 77-79
    2. Who Ought to Get Moral Consideration?

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 80-94
    3. Reasons for Granting Personhood

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 95-98
    4. Persons by Nature and Persons by Extension

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 99-113
  5. Part IV

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 114-114
    2. How Animals Ought to be Treated

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 115-128
    3. Animal Rights

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 129-136
    4. What Do We Owe to Future Generations?

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 137-146
    5. When Should We Bring New People into the World?

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 147-155
    6. The Human Fetus: Introduction

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 156-163
    7. Should Fetuses be Extended Persons?

      • Mary Gore Forrester
      Pages 164-187

About this book

Forrester discusses animal rights, obligations concerning future generations, abortion, limiting medical treatment, and euthanasia.
Persons are defined as individuals who ought to be treated in accordance with all sound moral principles. The author develops an account of what moral principles are sound, how we can apply them to complex situations, and what makes it reasonable to treat individuals in accordance with particular moral principles. This discussion puts the book's practical conclusions on a sounder basis than much other work on practical ethics. Most such authors state some general principles, but say little about why these principles should be accepted. Moreover, they rarely show how general principles can generate answers to specific dilemmas. Some even maintain that general principles are irrelevant.
Since Forrester is both a nurse practitioner and a philosopher, she has had direct acquaintance with many agonizing situations in medicine.
Summaries of the theoretical conclusions are included to enable nonprofessionals to follow the discussion of practical issues. The book will thus interest not only professional philosophers, but also non-philosophers concerned with problems in medical and environmental ethics, abortion, and animal rights.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Persons, Animals, and Fetuses

  • Book Subtitle: An Essay in Practical Ethics

  • Authors: Mary Gore Forrester

  • Series Title: Philosophical Studies Series

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1633-3

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Kluwer Academic Publishers 1996

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-7923-3918-2Published: 29 February 1996

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-010-7230-4Published: 20 September 2011

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-009-1633-3Published: 06 December 2012

  • Series ISSN: 0921-8599

  • Series E-ISSN: 2542-8349

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIV, 302

  • Topics: Ethics, Philosophy, general

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access