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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

status of political person

English answer:

status of political person

Added to glossary by BdiL
Jan 16, 2011 11:46
13 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term

status of political person

English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters philosophy
"(...) I argued that a reasonable political conception should give the status of political person to every sentient being."

This is part of a paper about moral philosophy.

The doubt that overcame me all of a sudden is whether the sentence would be correct if written: I argued that a reasonable political conception should give the status of a political person to (...).

Help! I really need mothertongues' educated opinions to resolve my mind. Is the usage correct either way?

Thanks in advance. Maurice
Responses
4 +1 status of political person
3 -1 political status

Discussion

Martin Riordan Jan 16, 2011:
a I appreciate your point, Bdil. On the question of the indefinite article "a", I would agree totally with Robert that the phrase sounds better without it. Should "political person" be between quotation marks (or italics, or bold) to make it stand out as a status?
BdiL (asker) Jan 16, 2011:
Person I wish to add that "person" used in this context is "philosophy jargon" and, in spite of my appreciation of Martin Riordan's keenness in arguing, I won't question that to the author!
BdiL (asker) Jan 16, 2011:
Thanks Robert! Even though I'm no mothertongue, my "ear" agrees with you on both accounts! Maurizio
Robert Forstag Jan 16, 2011:
@BdiL In the example you give, I think that "a doctor" is what sounds most natural. So again, I think that what is to be done in each instance will vary.
BdiL (asker) Jan 16, 2011:
@ Robert Forstag First, thanks, but would you also say "given the status of doctor" or "given the status of a doctor", where there's no adjective following status? Thx. MAu

Responses

+1
30 mins
Selected

status of political person

In my opinion, adding the indefinite article, as you propose, would be "less correct" than omitting it. An adjective is clearly called for here and not an appositive noun.

Peer comment(s):
agree JapanLegal : Yes, I wholeheartedly agree.
8 hrs
Thank you, Shannon.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you Robert!"
-1
33 mins

political status

If "every sentient being" extends beyond the human race and includes other beings (which I think it does in general usage - see link below), then "political person" would not be appropriate, as it limits the meaning to persons.

In this case "should give political status" would be better...
Reference:

http://www.google.com.br/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=ye7&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&defl=en&q=define:sentient&sa=X&ei=b-EyTevPEYrTg

Note from asker:
Thank you.
Peer comment(s):
disagree JapanLegal : "Person," in legal parlance, often means "entity." A corporation is a legal person. Thus, I think "political person" is better; it's more provocative and less muddled than "political status," and the author is trying to highlight the agency of all beings.
8 hrs
Thank you! I had got the wrong end of the stick in any case!
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