Ethics Life and Death Flashcards
theocentric perspective
the world was created by God or a divine being
empirical
something that is verifiable by facts or evidence
intelligent design theory
-world is too complex to be designed by chance
- must have a cause
- divine being or creator
- william paley watch analogy
Theory of evolution
-natural world is well designed
- design is deliberate
- Richard Dawkins
-Theory of Evolution, natural selection
- efficient design- evolved over many years
Stewardship- Liberal Christians
-believe in stewardship
- responsibility for the planet
- respect all living things
- created by God
‘ To cultivate and care for it’ - Genesis 2:15
Stewardship- Evangelical Christians
- believe in dominion
-right to rule
-power over all other creatures
-no duty to care for the world
‘ Rule over (…) every living creature’ - Genesis 1:28
Stewardship- Judaism
-believe in stewardship
- responsibility for the world
- respect/devotion- children future world
- G-d present in nature
- G-d as a judge
Stewardship- Humanism
-agree with stewardship
-reject ideas of supernatural beings
- believe it because it makes sense
Factors affecting Quality of Life
- health
-money
-communicate
-free will
-stability
-reason for yourself
Sanctity of Life- Christians
’ Jesus tended to the leper’ - all life is worthy of respect
‘Before i formed you in thr womb i knew you’ God knows us before we are born, he chooses when life begins
‘He himself gives life and breath to everything’ Sacred - made by God
Sanctity of Life - Jews
Pikuach Nefesh- human life’s value surpasses the law and should take priority
‘ So God created mankind in his own image’ (imago dei) - protected as we are made in god’s image
Sanctity of Life- Humanists
Human life is important but not sacred
not created by God
Abortion- Case studies 1
Savita Halappanavar
Miscarried- requested abortion
denied , as heartbeat present
died to organ failure days later
Abortion- Case studies 2
Gianna Jessen
survived 3rd trimester abortion
born with cerebral palsy
‘ If abortion is about a woman’s right, what are my rights?’
Abortion- Christians
Catholics:
-forbidden entirely
-against 10 commandments
-life is a gift, should be protected
C of E:
-allow ‘QoL’ and rape reasons
- believe law is too ‘liberal’
- all life is precious
Abortion- Jews
Orthodox:
-only permitted for mothers’ life
-life is a gift, should be protected
-Insist on priority of mother’s life
Reform:
-situation ethics
- rape and incest cases
- pikuach nefesh
Abortion- Humanists
-situation ethics
- liberal, pro choice
- morally acceptable
- long + short term effects
The Soul- Christians
-Inner part of our being
- personality/ individuality
- lives eternally
- indistinguishable from body
- DUALISTS
The Soul- Jews
-fragment of G-d
-life, identity, personality
- cannot be separated
- breath is symbol of a soul
-DUALISTS
The Soul- Humanists
-reject ideas of a soul
-physical beings- decompose
- no eternal part of us
- no God = No Soul
- MATERIALISTS
Active Euthanasia
When a person intentionally ends their life
Passive Euthanasia
Withdrawing medical support
Involuntary Euthanasia
death is forced, recipient can’t consent
Voluntary Euthanasia
A person consents to die
Living Wills
- legal document
-outlines recipients wishes - instructs doctors on how to act
-
Peter Singer - Euthanasia
- morally acceptable
- not legal= harms more people
-legal=harms less people
-quality of life > sanctity of life - its utalitarian
Euthanasia- Christians
-suffering has a purpose
- against 10 commandments
- withhold treatment that prolongs illness
‘ Doctrine of double effect’
- Life is a gift from God - precious
- accept passive if recipient proven dead
Euthanasia - Jews
-should not prolong suffering
- no artificially extended life
- wrong to shorten life
-Pikuach Nefesh
-Life is a gift from G-d
- accept passive if recipient proven dead
Euthanasia- Humanists
-want to legalize assisted dying
- should not be limited to terminally ill people
- die with dignity
- don’t believe in pointless suffering
Hospices
- offer palliative care
- support people in final moments
- Christians support hospices
Pro Euthanasia
- Utilitarian
- Controlled with proper regulation
- Death isn’t a bad thing
Anti Euthanasia
-devalue life
-pressure on vulnerable
-slippery slope
-sanctity of life
Christian Life after Death
- Heaven is true home
- Heaven is paradise
- Hell is a place of torment
‘ Sown perishable, raised imperishable’
Christian Judgement
- God judges all
- parable of sheep and goats
Christian Funerals
- last rites before death
- held in church
- candles= light of Christ
‘i am the resurrection(…) never die’
Jewish Life after Death
- non dualism
- gan eden , gehenna
- ressurection
- olam ha’ba
Jewish Judgement
-G-d will judge actions
- rosh hashanah - judgement day not needed
‘ G-d will bring every dead into judgement’
Jewish Funerals
- recite shema as they die
- mourners tear clothes - kriah
- funeral soon after death
- burial not cremation to allow resurrection
Humanist Life after Death
- no afterlife
- no soul
- no judge
- no heaven/hell
Humanist Judgement
- make the most of existence
- this shows compassion
- moral beings
Humanist Funerals
- informal, personal ceremony
- show respect for person
- no reference to God
- burial or cremation
