HSS 4107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Judith Jarvis Thomson, Helga Kuhse, Margaret Somerville
Document Summary
November 23, 2016: explain the difference in ethical stances between margaret somerville and judith jarvis. Disti(cid:374)(cid:272)tio(cid:374) relies o(cid:374) the disti(cid:374)(cid:272)tio(cid:374) of o(cid:374)e"s i(cid:374)te(cid:374)t. Pri(cid:373)ary i(cid:374)te(cid:374)t is to treat the patie(cid:374)t"s pai(cid:374), a(cid:374)d if the patie(cid:374)t happe(cid:374)s to die the(cid:374) it is ethically acceptable. Eutha(cid:374)asia"s pri(cid:373)ary i(cid:374)te(cid:374)t is to kill the patie(cid:374)t. The initial act resulting in a bad consequence(death) has to be good/neutral. The agent cannot will the bad effect, but you can permit it. The bad consequences cannot be viewed as an end in itself, to achieve the good. Cannot be used as a means to stop suffering. There must be proportionality; no alternative to the pain relief you are going to provide. No o(cid:374)e (cid:272)a(cid:374) k(cid:374)o(cid:449) for (cid:272)ertai(cid:374) the purity of the other perso(cid:374)"s intent. Whole idea behind good effect and bad effect are based on normative judgements. Personal interpretation of whether death is considered good or bad.