User:Chriseargle/Drafts/Inherent capacity

Inherent capacity is a term used in arguing that all humans are persons despite the stage of development or functioning of the brain. It is put forth by Scott Klusendorf, a Christian apologist, as a contrast to "current capacity."

This is a problematic argument since capacity, in the sense of one's ability to perform, is an inherent characteristic. The word also covers both the current and potential ability to perform. In common usage, this means one has the ability in the present moment or can develop the ability through one's own volition. Klusendorf includes the potential for biological processes to provide capacity to the individual without the use of volition.

Klusendorf claims the reason we do not kill anyone who is simply unconscious is due to the existence of the inherent capacity for consciousness. This once again shows the uselessness of the term, since removing inherent does not change the meaning. Furthermore, under United States law, an unconscious person is considered to have diminished capacity.