aka HUMANISM. "I can now give a brief characterisation of my third construction routine, which is called Metaphysical Transubtantiation. Let us suppose that the genitor has sanctioned the apperance of a biological type called HUMANS, into which, considerate as always, he has built an attribute, or complex of attributes, called 'rationality', perhaps on the grounds that this would greatly assist its possessors in coping speedily and resourcefully with survival problems posed by a wide range of environments. "What these humans do is redistribute the attributes. Properties which they possess essentially as humans become properties which as substances of a NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPE called 'persons' they possess ACCIDENTALLY; And the property or properties called rationality, which attaches only accidentally to humans, attaches essentially to persons." "On the assumption that the operation of metaphysical transubstantiation has been appropriately carried thorugh, a class of BIOLOGICAL CREATURES has been 'invented', itno a class of PSYCHOLOGICAL substances, namely 'persons', who possess as part of their ESSENTIAL nature a certain autonomous finality consisting in the exercise of rationality. The degree to which they fulfil that metier will constitute them 'good persons' ('good qua' persons); and while the reference to the substantial kind 'persons' undoubtedly introduces a restriction or qualification, it is not clear that this restriction is a matter of relativisation." Which is back to Protagoras, as J. Wager points out. Cheers, JL Speranza "The necessity and sufficiency of conditions for the 'human' definition of the phoetus" Journal of Protagorical Research iii. ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com