ABSTRACT
What then are the morally relevant causal factors that lead to personhood, and does a human foetus come to possess them prior to its birth? These two questions form the focus of this chapter. As will become clear, there are no definitive answers to these questions. There is, however, some fairly widespread agreement as to the possibilities. The first, and most apparent positive causal factor that is necessary for personhood is an appropriate genetic structure.1 Whilst it is generally accepted that self-awareness (the capacity to see oneself as a distinct and continuing being over time) and hence personhood, is largely a result of an individual’s social interaction, the right genetic makeup is, without a doubt, also necessary. Without a species-typical genetic structure mere existence in a social world would not result in humans becoming persons. This becomes clear if we consider the numerous other species, such as our domestic dogs and cats, which evidently do interact on a social level, yet do not become self-aware as a result of that interaction.
