L30 Phil 131F Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: James Rachels, Involuntary Euthanasia, Euthanasia
12 Dec 2018
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Active euthanasia: when the doctor takes an active role in ending the patient"s life. Any action that promotes the best interest of all concerned, and that violates no rights, is morally acceptable. Mercy argument: euthanasia is permissible because it puts an end to the suffering of the terminally ill patients. Ex: irish satirist jonathan swift (1745) had prolonged suffering before his death. Ex: stewart alsop was a journalist (1975) who died of cancer and approved of euthanasia. Stewart roomed with a man named jack who was in constant pain, and if he were a dog, he would have been euthanized. No living being with a spark of pity could let a living being suffer so, to no good end . Utilitarian argument: considering that all actions should be judged exclusively on if they cause happiness or misery, we can see how euthanasia is morally acceptable.
