The Ethics of Euthanasia
Section 1 is easy to answer if you are using the Issues in society book, or anything else you find at NF 179.7.
The following sources will also be useful:
Section 2 requires much more thinking. Here are some links to get you started:
You may also wish to watch the film You before Me or read the book at F MOY.
The following sources will also be useful:
- Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/]
- Catholic Church in Australia [https://www.catholic.org.au/bishops-commission-for-pastoral-life/alternative-to-euthanasia]
- Human rights and Euthanasia [https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/projects/human-rights-and-euthanasia]
Section 2 requires much more thinking. Here are some links to get you started:
- Decisions about Death [http://www.utilitarian.net/singer/by/200508--.htm]
- Peter Singer on Philosophy Bites Podcasts [http://philosophybites.com/2012/04/peter-singer-on-life-and-death-decision-making.html]
- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/end-of-life/euthanasia/]
- Kant's Categorical Imperative and Euthanasia [http://www.alevelphilosophy.co.uk/handouts_ethics/KantEuthanasia.pdf]
- Rethinking the Morality of Voluntary Euthanasia [https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/facultyhandbook/documents/FrankCollinsentryUndergraduatewinner.pdf]
You may also wish to watch the film You before Me or read the book at F MOY.
Section 1:
(a) Define Euthanasia (2-3 sentences)
(b) Who could it affect? How? (1 paragraph)
Section 2:
How do each of these philosophical approaches view Euthanasia?
(a) Define the main aspects of this philosophy (in relation to ethics) (3-5 sentences)
(b) How this approach addresses Euthanasia (3-5 sentences - THINK about it; don't just expect to download an answer!)
(c) What parts of their philosophy led to this attitude (2 paragraphs including quotes)
(d) What are the philosophical arguments against this approach? (1 paragraph)
(e) Which activists are using this approach today? What are their arguments? (1-2 paragraphs) Examples are given below.
Section 3:
Where do you stand? What have you learned from your research? (1 paragraph)
(a) Define Euthanasia (2-3 sentences)
(b) Who could it affect? How? (1 paragraph)
- terminially ill, elderly, people with mental illnessess, disabled people, people with dementia etc
- families, carers, medical professionals
- governments, lawyers, tax payers
- How is it done? Where? At what point? Who is present?
- Are there other ways it could work? How does this compare to suicide?
- Who gets to decide whether it's appropriate? Are there issues we need to look out for?
Section 2:
How do each of these philosophical approaches view Euthanasia?
- Kant's Categorical Imperative
- Bentham's Utititarianism
- Comte's Altruism
(a) Define the main aspects of this philosophy (in relation to ethics) (3-5 sentences)
(b) How this approach addresses Euthanasia (3-5 sentences - THINK about it; don't just expect to download an answer!)
(c) What parts of their philosophy led to this attitude (2 paragraphs including quotes)
(d) What are the philosophical arguments against this approach? (1 paragraph)
(e) Which activists are using this approach today? What are their arguments? (1-2 paragraphs) Examples are given below.
- Kant: Catholic Church, current Australian government
- Utilitarianism: Singer
- Altruism: Denton
Section 3:
Where do you stand? What have you learned from your research? (1 paragraph)