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... Voluntary euthanasia is the ethical issue that the question is focusing on because death is carried out with the wish of the patient. There are many ethical theories that contribute to the arguments of euthanasia which creates ethical division and differences, but which of these theories concludes with the most compassionate action with the society and law that we have today? ... Bowie Ethical Studies p. ... Therefore according to Kant it would be your duty to keep someone alive against his or her will because it will prevent euthanasia becoming universalised. ... For example the obligations to preserve a life and do not lie are conflicting over keeping a person alive and a compromise/reason would be needed. ...
Act that you treat humanity, both in your own person and in the person of every other human being, never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end. Here Kant is arguing that a human being is the most important factor in any moral equation, therefore you should keep a person alive because you are treating them as ends, not means. ... Is a person in a vegetative state human? This comes down to the definition of personhood, which is an ethical argument within itself. Therefore there is no real solution to the definition of a person.if not a person dont need to be treated as ends Kant also seems to assume that everyones needs are the same and everyones morals are universally applicable, but this is only an ideal, not reality. ... But according to Kantian Ethics a person may be suffering and demand to be allowed to die but this person must be kept alive because they may not understand the reward life brings to them, which might only be apparent in an afterlife, the reward is a result of following the Categorical imperative, those who do not are deluded. ... Fletcher believes that the best choice is to love and put a person first before rules. ... Therefore, according to Situation Ethics, it might be good to allow a person to die and to put a stop to their suffering, even though family and friends will mourn over this persons death, because it will be the most loving thing for that situation and that person. Fletcher rejects words like absolute because different circumstances throw up exceptions, it might be the most loving thing to keep someone alive against his or her will, it just depends on the situation. ... (Bowie, R, Ethical Studies p110)
Even though this ethic is flexible and practical, there is a danger that people may think that they are acting in the name of love, when really they are being influenced by another person or even by their selfish motives. ... Natural law theorists are also against an individualistic and subjective point of view because human actions may be in conflict with the will of God. ... One of which self -preservation is relevant to the issue of keeping a person alive. ...
However, this whole theory is dependent on God, what if the person who wanted to was an atheist or does God even exist? ... Therefore, if a person wanted to act out euthanasia, this theory does not have enough evidence to prove that God exists, even though the whole theory is reliant on it. ... Therefore, if a person wanted to be allowed to die they can look at the principles of life and hopefully re-think their decision, as natural law strongly believes in the preservation of life. ... (Matthew 7:12) But this is wrong as God created the Divine Command theory, which states clearly, do not kill, and euthanasia could be seen from members of the Christian society that hey are killing another person.
Approximate Word count = 3021
Approximate Pages = 12.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
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