Transition to Human Beings

Bibliographic Data

ID23736686
AuthorsPhilippa Foot (corresponding author)
Year2001
Pages38-51
Publication date2001-02-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueNatural goodness (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherOxford University PressOxford (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/0198235089.003.0004
OpenAlexW2491348800
ISBN9780198235088
LanguageEN
References cited24

Foot proposes to transfer the conceptual patterns of natural normativity discussed in the preceding chapter to the realm of human action. Foot argues that we can evaluate features and operations of humans in relation to the part they play in human life, according to the schema of natural normativity found in the case of plants and animals. In support of her thesis, she draws upon Anscombe's discussion of the institution of promising, taking care to distinguish this from utilitarianism. The same normative pattern, that of natural normativity, Foot concludes, is to be found in the evaluations of plants, animals, and human beings; although human good is different to the good in the world of animals and plants, nevertheless there is a common conceptual structure.

Biology · Transition (genetics) · Biochemistry · Historical Philosophy and Science · Philosophical Ethics and Theory · Philosophy, Science, and History