Which of the following most accurately illustrates the idea of a "marginal case"?
A) A human being with a normally functioning brain and average upbringing.
B) A nonhuman animal that lacks the rationality we take to be central to human-level moral status.
C) A human being that lacks the rationality we take to be central to human-level moral status.
D) A nonhuman animal who, in factory-farm conditions, has marginally more pleasures than pain over a lifetime.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A "marginal case" refers to individuals who do not possess certain traits (such as rationality) that are often considered necessary for full moral consideration, yet we might still feel they deserve moral consideration. This is typically applied to humans who lack these traits, illustrating the challenge of defining moral status based on such characteristics.

Which of the Following Most Accurately Illustrates the Idea of a "Marginal