Justification for Euthanasia
Justification for Euthanasia
Name: Li Meng
Course: Methodology and Academic Writing
Student Number: 201112042
China Foreign Affairs University
1
The famous French philosopher Rene Descartes predicted that human would not only be able to prevent different physical and mental disease, but also be able to find the way to slow and delay senility as far back as the modern medical science and technology made first appearance. Exactly as Descartes predicted, the modern medical science and technology has transformed the “art of death” into “art of life”. However, In spite of advances of medicine, there are some patients who suffering from constant chronic and mortal illness, lying on the bed, surrounded by high-tech instrument, but still tortured by the physical and mental pains.
Since then, people began to rethink that whether we have the rights to die as a true human being? And what’s the meaning of life? With these philosophical cross-examine question, the practice of euthanasia gradually appeared in the process of diagnosis and treatment.
Therefore, whether people can perform euthanasia becomes a highly controversial subject in medical, philosophical, ethical and law community.
This article will justify the legitimation of euthanasia, both voluntary and involuntary euthanasia, on the view of libertarianism theory and utilitarianism theory.
“Euthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner.”i The most widely accepted classification of euthanasia is developed by Australian philosopher Peter
Singer. According to Peter Singer, based on the standard of the patients’ willingness, euthanasia can fall into two categories which are voluntary euthanasia and involuntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia is that to which the subject consents. “Involuntary euthanasia is euthanasia conducted where the explicit consent of the individual concerned is unavailable, such as when the person is in a persistent vegetative state.”ii
Justification for
Name: Li Meng
Course: Methodology and Academic Writing
Student Number: 201112042
China Foreign Affairs University
1
The famous French philosopher Rene Descartes predicted that human would not only be able to prevent different physical and mental disease, but also be able to find the way to slow and delay senility as far back as the modern medical science and technology made first appearance. Exactly as Descartes predicted, the modern medical science and technology has transformed the “art of death” into “art of life”. However, In spite of advances of medicine, there are some patients who suffering from constant chronic and mortal illness, lying on the bed, surrounded by high-tech instrument, but still tortured by the physical and mental pains.
Since then, people began to rethink that whether we have the rights to die as a true human being? And what’s the meaning of life? With these philosophical cross-examine question, the practice of euthanasia gradually appeared in the process of diagnosis and treatment.
Therefore, whether people can perform euthanasia becomes a highly controversial subject in medical, philosophical, ethical and law community.
This article will justify the legitimation of euthanasia, both voluntary and involuntary euthanasia, on the view of libertarianism theory and utilitarianism theory.
“Euthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner.”i The most widely accepted classification of euthanasia is developed by Australian philosopher Peter
Singer. According to Peter Singer, based on the standard of the patients’ willingness, euthanasia can fall into two categories which are voluntary euthanasia and involuntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia is that to which the subject consents. “Involuntary euthanasia is euthanasia conducted where the explicit consent of the individual concerned is unavailable, such as when the person is in a persistent vegetative state.”ii
Justification for