Human issues of life and death Flashcards
NML on voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide
-Against euthanasia
-Goes against sanctity of life
-encourages other solutions e.g end-of-life care
-against precept preservation of life
-euthanasia is an apparent good.
NML on abortion
-Against
-Goes against all primary precepts
-Against reproduction, doesn’t preserve life, direct and intended effect is to end the life, intrinsically evil.
-BUT some NML followers allow graded absolutism which argues it is acceptable in extreme cases such as if the mother’s life is in danger.
NML on embryo research
-Against
-Embryos are possible human lives, it abandons the natural methods of reproduction.
-Firmly against designer babies as it interferes with God’s natural order and design.
-BUT
-May be acceptable if it prevents severe genetic diseases without causing harm.
-Proportionalists may argue the benefits outweigh the destruction of the embryo.
NML on capital punishment
-May uphold the principle of ordered society.
-BUT doesn’t uphold precept of preservation of life.
-Violates principle of dignity
-Some argue it is an effective deterrent, but others argue other methods such as rehabilitation should be used.
-Proportionalism agrees as it is an equally severe punishment for the crime.
-May be acceptable if it is the only way to prevent a grave and imminent threat to society.
Virtue ethics on voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide
-Use practical wisdom to make thoughtful decision-making based on circumstances.
-Consider the character of the individuals involved and the virtues they should exhibit.
-Consider virtues of benevolence, justice and integrity.
-If the individual can no longer achieve eudamonia, further living is useless.
-Murder is defined by the victim NOT wanting to die.
virtue ethics on abortion
-Matter for the rules of the city state
-Abortion should be before birth
-Consider well-being of mother and child (compassion)
-Courage needed to make challenging moral decisions.
-Acceptable if it will contribute to one’s overall eudaimonia
virtue ethics on embryo research
-Acceptable so long as it is virtuous
-Unrestricted and unethical experimentation may not seem virtuous.
-Screening to prevent genetic disorders may assist the child to achieve eudaimonia.
-BUT against designer babies as being too focused on superficial traits may steer attention away from the importance of virtues and moral character.
-Should be ethical boundaries.
virtue ethics on capital punishment
-Examine their character
-Is it for the common good?
-Consider the situation (practical wisdom)
-Acceptable if it is the most virtuous thing to do e.g the only way to protect society.
Situation ethics on voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide
-Acceptable if it is the most loving thing to do e.g only way to prevent unnecessary suffering.
-Relativism (depends on situation)
-Personalism emphasises the value of the individual and their well-being.
-Assess whether the act is the most loving and compassionate response to the person’s suffering.
“To prolong life uselessly…is to attack the moral status of a person” - Fletcher
Situation ethics on abortion
-“No unwanted child should ever be born” - Fletcher
-Important to value the dignity and worth of each individual including the mother and potential child.
-If the birth will lead to suffering for either the mother or child, abortion is arguably the most loving thing to do.
-BUT others would argue the most loving this is to find other ways e.g adoption.
Case studies for abortion
-Romanian Jewish doctor aborted 3000 Jewish women entering a concentration camp. If pregnant, they would be killed.
-Woman had an abortion after she feared her baby would be born with absence/malformation of the limbs as a result of the morning sickness drug she took ‘thalidomide’.
-1962 an unwell girl was raped by another patient in a mental hospital. She was refused the abortion.
Situation ethics on embryo research
-Could be viewed as pragmatic to allow unethical embryo research if it will result in discovering cures for diseases.
-Designer babies are not agapeic.
-Potential to alleviate suffering is agapeic.
-The good for actual persons in more important than the good for potential persons.
Situation ethics on capital punishment
-You have to decide in the light of your own views as to what love demands in the situation.
-Consider the context: the crime, the individual, the possibility of rehabilitation.
-May be more loving to to execute a criminal if it is the only way to protect society and bring justice to the victim’s family.
-May be more loving to focus on rehabilitating the individual if they have the potential.
Who was Tony Nicklinson?
-58 year old paralysed neck down after stroke.
-He wanted to be euthanised.
-Wanted to change the law so that doctors wouldn’t be charged if they took his life.
-He failed, “I fear for the future and the misery it is bound to bring”.
-He died after refusing food.
Who was Noel Conway?
-Terminally ill man with motor neurone disease who wanted the right to die.
-He tried to change the laws to allow him the right-to-die.
-Failed
