Euthanasia from Different Perspectives (Argumentative Essay)
Alayna Karas
Professor Robert Victorin-Vangerud
Ethics 102
28 October 2013
Euthanasia from Different Perspectives Euthanasia is a topic in which people have supported it, disagreed with it or are unsure of what they think about it. This is a sensitive subject because there are millions of instances we can evaluate and determine if they are morally right or wrong. All people interpret human euthanasia differently; some think we need it, some want it and some say we can control it, while others say there are alternatives and that we can never truly control it (Care, para. 14-20.) There are multiple forms of euthanasia that exist: active, passive, physician-assisted suicide, voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary. Some are more tolerable in people’s opinions while others are unquestionably irrational. The end result of this practice is ever-changing because there are so many different perspectives one can take into account while making a decision to end the life of a fellow human. There are different morals that you can take into account while deciding whether euthanasia is right or wrong, one of the most important being “Is it morally right to allow someone to be euthanized?” Ultimately the situation at hand in which a person wants to be euthanized must be evaluated individually by questioning the morals of the patient. Now we will look at euthanasia from a couple different ethical views: Utilitarianism and Kant’s theory. In Utilitarianism the main goal is to maximize happiness and think about what consequences can happen depending on a morally right or wrong action. From a consequentialist perspective, which is utilitarian, voluntariness matters morally only to the extent that it affects human happiness and welfare (Mackinnon 172) and that overall we are concerned with what the best results can be. Kant’s theory focused on what a person ought to do; motive should help a person act morally right to avoid consequences. From a nonconsequentialist
Professor Robert Victorin-Vangerud
Ethics 102
28 October 2013
Euthanasia from Different Perspectives Euthanasia is a topic in which people have supported it, disagreed with it or are unsure of what they think about it. This is a sensitive subject because there are millions of instances we can evaluate and determine if they are morally right or wrong. All people interpret human euthanasia differently; some think we need it, some want it and some say we can control it, while others say there are alternatives and that we can never truly control it (Care, para. 14-20.) There are multiple forms of euthanasia that exist: active, passive, physician-assisted suicide, voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary. Some are more tolerable in people’s opinions while others are unquestionably irrational. The end result of this practice is ever-changing because there are so many different perspectives one can take into account while making a decision to end the life of a fellow human. There are different morals that you can take into account while deciding whether euthanasia is right or wrong, one of the most important being “Is it morally right to allow someone to be euthanized?” Ultimately the situation at hand in which a person wants to be euthanized must be evaluated individually by questioning the morals of the patient. Now we will look at euthanasia from a couple different ethical views: Utilitarianism and Kant’s theory. In Utilitarianism the main goal is to maximize happiness and think about what consequences can happen depending on a morally right or wrong action. From a consequentialist perspective, which is utilitarian, voluntariness matters morally only to the extent that it affects human happiness and welfare (Mackinnon 172) and that overall we are concerned with what the best results can be. Kant’s theory focused on what a person ought to do; motive should help a person act morally right to avoid consequences. From a nonconsequentialist
Cited: J. Angelfire, Gallup Poll, Angelfire & Nightingale Alliance . N.p.. Web. 28 Oct 2013. . I have used this source for many other projects/papers I have completed in various other classes. This website is reputable according to my other professors that have overlooked it. Care Officials, . N.p.. Web. 28 Oct 2013. . Mackinnon, Barbara. Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues. 6th ed. Student Belmont: Wadsworth, 2009. Print. This is our ethics book we are required to have in the course. I find that is a very helpful resource because the chapter I am writing about is something we have already covered so I am able to remember some information but able to look back when necessary.