辛格是怎样将“人”消解了的——兼论堕胎、安乐死中的伦理问题

The Concept of "Person" by Peter Singer--The Ethical Problems in Abortion and Euthanasia

对应用伦理学的一些典型论争所引发的有关核心概念进行分析研究 ,是当代伦理学的一项重要任务。“人”就属于这样一种核心概念。医学伦理学中有关堕胎、安乐死问题的争论 ,都涉及“人”这个概念的定义。辛格在其名著《实践伦理学》中消解了“人”这一概念 ,挑战了传统观念中人类生命的神圣性 ,指出人的生命权利以及对这种权利的尊重与保护并不取决于宗教或直觉上的准则 ,而是取决于他所具有的客观存在的特征与需求。他的这一论断及其所引发的论争对生命伦理学界产生了深远的影响。

Analytical research on concerned core concepts triggered by a number of typical debates about abortion and euthanasia in medical ethics is a primary task for modern ethics. The concept of 'person' falls into this category. In modern ethics, all debates over abortion and euthanasia are related to the definition of the concept of 'person'. In his well known book Practice Ethics, Peter Singer dispels the concept of 'person', challenges the sacredness of human life in the traditional concepts. He further points out that the right of life of the person and the respect and protection for such rights do not hinge upon religious or intuitional rules, but on the objectively existing features and demands the person has.Such a conclusion and the debate it arises have exerted profound impacts on the life ethics circle.