application of ethical theories to abortion, voluntary euthanasia + cap. punishment

Question 1

What were the views about abortion in NML? W quote

Answer 1

Abortion totally contravenes NML
Pope John II referred to it is a ‘grave moral disorder’

Question 2

What P.P does abortion break in NML?

Answer 2

• Worship of God
• Preservation of innocent life
• Ordered society

Question 3

When does the Catholic Church permit abortion?

Answer 3

Only if the 4 criteria of the principle of double effect are fulfilled

Question 4

What is the sanctity of life in NML?

Answer 4

All life is sacred bc God creates all life

Question 5

What is an example of an area in which the Catholic Church would permit abortion w the PODE?

Answer 5

Removal of a woman’s cancerous uterus w the unintended consequence being death of the foetus

Question 6

What does Fletcher say about abortion?

Answer 6

Interests of an actual person should take priority over those os a potential person

Question 7

What case does Fletcher refer to for abortion?

Answer 7

1962 - unmarried girl, ill w schizophrenic psychosis was raped by another patient in a mental hospital
The girls father demanded an abortion; hospital refused bc the criminal law prohibited all abortion except when mother’s life was at stake

Question 8

What did Aristotle believe about abortion?

Answer 8

It should take place before signs of an individual human
Similar to the 14 day rule

Question 9

What does Rosalind Hursthouse say about the status of the foetus?

Answer 9

We don’t know enough about the biological facts to be sure of the status of a foetus

Question 10

What does Rosalind Hursthouse say about the reason for abortion?

Answer 10

Reason shouldn’t be smth trivial like body image or morning sickness
but smth weighty

Question 11

What did Aquinas believe about suicide?

Answer 11

Death is more painful than disability
So suicide is contrary to the natural inclination of any form to stay alive

Question 12

What P.P does assisted suicide (A.S) and voluntary euthanasia (V.E) breach?

Answer 12

Breaches P.P of preserve innocent life, worship God + live in an ordered society

Question 13

What does the Catholic Church say about what is proportionate with AS + VE?

Answer 13

Morally permissible to refuse treatment where medication/tech just prolongs dying + doesn’t improve anything

Question 14

What does the Catholic Church believe about refusing treatment that just prolongs dying?

Answer 14

It’s not viewed as euthanasia but as allowing nature to take its course

Question 15

What example do we use when discussing VE and AS for Situation Ethics?

Answer 15

E.g. of a man with a terminal disease + 8 months to live where his condition deteriorates + he’ll be in pain for several months

Question 16

What would Situation ethics say about the example of the terminally ill man?

Answer 16

He has a right to live + a right to die

Question 17

What would situation ethics CONSIDER with the example of the terminally ill man?

Answer 17

• Is his choice made on his own wo fam pressure?
• Is he suffering from depression that may change?
• How correct is his diagnosis
• Has his chair to die been approved by more than 1 medical component

Question 18

What might Aristotle say about VE + AS?

Answer 18

May be a courageous option in a. state where one is unable to achieve eudaimonia

Question 19

What might Aristotle say is also courageous in VE + AS?

Answer 19

He may say its also courageous to endure the pain rather than VE or AS

Question 20

What example can we used for virtue ethics when talking about VE + AS?

Answer 20

Anne has 2 strokes + now has dementia; after 1st stroke tells husband George she doesn’t want to live
George, out of love tells her a story then kills her by smothering he w a pillow

Question 21

Would would Aristotle say about the e.g. of george + anne?

Answer 21

Justice would be placed about love in terms of virtue
Courageous thing would’ve been for G to endure suffering w A

Question 22

What is suggested about the story w George + anne?

Answer 22

Virtues of compassion + mercy suggest its not murder but justifiable

Question 23

What does the decision of VE + AS in virtue ethics depend on?

Answer 23

Practical wisdom

Question 24

What’s the Hippocratic oath?

Answer 24

Doctors sign upon healing Gods in Ancient Greece that they would never intentionally end a patients life

Question 25

What did Aquinas believe about capital punishment?

Answer 25

It’s legit but not responsibility of individuals bc that would be revenge + can get out of hand
Has to be done by members of the state

Question 26

What P.P does capital punishment support? And what cardinal virtue?

Answer 26

Living in an ordered society
Justice

Question 27

What have Pope Francis + John Paul said about Capital punishment?

Answer 27

Opposed to it

Question 28

What example is used for capital punishment?

Answer 28

Angel Diaz; murdered an Israeli immigrant; strangled him w a shoe lace, stabbed him
A.D. + his 4 friends rob, beat + gang raped the victims wife + 16 yr old daughter

Question 29

What does situation ethics think about capital punishment?

Answer 29

No set view
Takes into acc concerns of those involved
Whatever affirms love

Question 30

What were Athenian societies views on capital punishment?

Answer 30

Capital punishment wasn’t used used in Athenian society
Aristotle didn’t discuss it

Question 31

What is justice about according to Aristotle?

Answer 31

Balancing/rectifying/restoring

Question 32

What can Aristotles view of justice tell us about what he may say about capital punishment?

Answer 32

Where one person murderer another, the balance has to be rectified even thought the victim is death - done by the state killing the murderer