human issues Flashcards
what are the 6 human issues?
lying
theft
embryo research
abortion
euthanasia
capital punishment
lying-NML
violates 10 commandments
violates primary precepts
not morally right
proportionalism may justify
doctrine of double effect may justify
lying-SE
do most loving thing (acceptable if done to help someone etc)
not alright to lie in some circumstances e.g perjury
relativism
personalism
lying-VE
wrong as it doesn’t strengthen virtues e.g truthfulness
doesn’t always change virtues as it could be done for higher virtue e.g loyalty
theft-NML
not morally right to steal
may be alright if it is to preserve life (primary precept)
proportionalism
theft-SE
if it is to help someone it is acceptable
relativism
personalism
theft-VE
should put yourself first so if necessary it is acceptable
may not reach telos if we steal without reason
embryo research-NML
shouldn’t play God
intrinsically wrong
‘before I knitted you in the womb, I knew you’ (Jeremiah)
proportional to save life
ensoulment 40 days after conception (Aquinas)
embryo research-SE
agape for actual person better than potential person
end justify the means
pragmatic (designer babies to stop defects)
embryo research-VE
develop virtue of empathy
develop to achieve eudaimonia
long term medical benefits
not virtuous if done with excessive pride
abortion-NML
doesn’t follow primary precepts (preservation, reproduction etc)
acceptable under DoDE and proportionalism
abortion-SE
most loving outcome
quality of life
meets 4 necessities of agapeic calculus
love is justice and baby hasn’t had chance to live
abortion-VE
depends on if it is virtuous or not e.g acceptable if compassionate for mother
acceptable if done with right intention
may be practically wise
killing foetus removes telos
not valuing life is not virtuous
euthanasia-NML
goes against primary precept- preserve life
sanctity of life
suffering should be accepted as Jesus also suffered
allow in proportionalism and DoDE
euthanasia-SE
consider most agapeic outcome
may be better to end suffering (quality of life)
may be practically wise to end suffering
personalism
love is not liking if people are convinced into being euthanised
euthanasia-VE
unable to achieve telos as it takes our whole life to become virtuous
can’t achieve ‘golden mean’ (too extreme to be midpoint)
depends on whether it is virtuous or not
capital punishment-NML
preserves ordered society
violates preservation of life
goes against sanctity of life
Jesus - ‘turn the other cheek’
DoDE- if done to restore peace/act as deterrent
capital punishment-SE
agapeic to prevent further harm
justice
relativism - depend on context
personalism-violated in cases of false convictions
consequences may cause taking life of anyone to be justified
capital punishment-VE
aligns with virtues of courage and justice
more compassionate for victim and family
extreme response
contradicts temperance and forgiveness
virtuous person would seek restorative justice
