Bioethics - Not Killing

What are the two major religious ethical theories discussed?

Divine Command Theory and Natural Law Theory.

What is Divine Command Theory?

The view that actions are right because God commands them and wrong because God forbids them.

What is one advantage of Divine Command Theory?

It appears to provide an objective foundation for morality.

What is one criticism of Divine Command Theory?

It depends on determining what God commands, which may be difficult or disputed.

Why might an atheist reject Divine Command Theory?

Because its authority depends on belief in God.

What is the Euthyphro Dilemma?

Is an action right because God approves it, or does God approve it because it is right?

What problem occurs if actions are right merely because God commands them?

Morality becomes arbitrary because God could command anything.

Why does the professor say reasons become meaningless under this view?

Because only God's command matters, not the reasons for why an action is right or wrong.

What happens if God approves actions because they are already right?

Morality becomes independent of God's commands.

Why is this a problem for Divine Command Theory?

The theory loses its foundation because morality exists independently of God.

What is the Euthyphro Dilemma and why is it considered a major objection to Divine Command Theory?

If actions are right because God commands them, morality becomes arbitrary. If God commands actions because they are right, morality exists independently of God. Either option creates a serious problem for Divine Command Theory.

Who is most associated with Natural Law Theory?

St. Thomas Aquinas.

What is teleology?

The idea that everything has a natural purpose or end.

Why does Aquinas think killing animals is permissible?

Animals exist for a purpose, and part of that purpose is serving human needs.

Why does Aquinas think killing humans is different?

Humans possess reason and occupy a special place in the natural order.

What is the central idea behind Natural Law Theory?

Moral actions are those that respect and fulfill natural purposes

Who is associated with the Future Like Ours argument?

Don Marquis.

According to Marquis, why is killing wrong?

Because it deprives a person of the valuable future they would have experienced

Why does Marquis reject effects on family and friends as the primary reason killing is wrong?

The main harm is suffered by the victim who loses their future.

What is meant by a "future like ours"?

Future experiences, activities, goals, and enjoyments that someone would otherwise have

What conclusion does Marquis reach?

The loss of one's future is what makes killing seriously wrong

What did Furman v. Georgia (1972) decide?

The death penalty as then administered was unconstitutional because of its arbitrary and discriminatory application.

What did Gregg v. Georgia (1976) decide?

The death penalty could return if states addressed the problems identified in Furman.

What was Justice Brennan's main concern?

Punishments should not violate human dignity or be applied arbitrarily.

Why is lethal injection ethically controversial?

It closely resembles a medical procedure and may involve healthcare professionals.

Why have firing squads recently reappeared in discussions?

Some argue they produce fewer botched executions than certain lethal injection methods.

What is the dilemma presented in the protester scenario?

Whether killing one innocent person is justified if doing so saves fifteen others

Executing Protesters Case - How would an Act Utilitarian likely respond?

Shoot the one protester because doing so saves more lives overall

Executing Protesters Case - Why would many people reject this conclusion?

It intentionally kills an innocent person.

Executing Protesters Case - What ethical principle is being tested?

Whether consequences alone can justify killing.

Executing Protesters Case - Why is the scenario useful?

It reveals potential conflicts between utility and moral rules against killing

What is Ahimsa?

The principle of nonviolence central to Jainism.

How does Jainism view killing?

Killing any living thing is morally wrong

Does intention matter in Jainism?

The lecture emphasizes that the act of killing itself is what matters

How does Jainism differ from Utilitarianism?

Jainism prohibits killing regardless of beneficial consequences

Why is Jainism discussed in this lecture?

It represents an ethical system with a nearly absolute prohibition on killing.

What does euthanasia mean?

"Good death."

What is active euthanasia?

Taking a direct action to cause death.

What is passive euthanasia?

Withholding or withdrawing treatment, allowing death to occur

What is voluntary euthanasia?

The patient chooses euthanasia.

What is nonvoluntary euthanasia?

Someone else makes the decision because the patient cannot.

What is physician-assisted suicide?

A physician provides the means for death, but the patient performs the final act

How does physician-assisted suicide differ from active euthanasia?

The physician does not directly cause death

Why is it considered a middle ground?

It falls between active euthanasia and simply allowing death to occur

What ethical issue does PAS raise?

Whether healthcare professionals should assist patients in ending their lives.

How does autonomy support PAS?

Patients may claim the right to control the timing and manner of their death.

Who argued against the distinction between active and passive euthanasia?

James Rachels

What common belief does Rachels challenge?

That passive euthanasia is morally preferable to active euthanasia.

What problem can occur with passive euthanasia?

It may prolong suffering.

What is Rachels's main conclusion?

Active euthanasia is not automatically morally worse than passive euthanasia

Why does he think letting die is not always better?

Sometimes actively ending life may reduce suffering more effectively

Who is associated with the Principle of Double Effect?

St. Thomas Aquinas and Natural Law Theory.

What is the Principle of Double Effect?

An action producing both good and bad effects may be permissible if the bad effect is unintended and certain conditions are met

What is the central idea of the principle?

Intention matters morally.

What must be intended?

The good effect, not the bad effect

Why is this principle important?

It explains why some actions causing death can still be morally permissible.

What are the four conditions of Double Effect?

• The act must be morally good or neutral.

• The bad effect cannot be the means to the good effect.

• The intention must be the good effect.

• The good effect must be proportionate to the bad effect.

How does Aquinas justify self-defense?

The intention is self-preservation, not killing the aggressor.

Which principle is Aquinas using?

The Principle of Double Effect.

What is the intended effect?

Saving one's own life.

What is the unintended effect?

The death of the attacker

When is self-defense morally permissible according to Aquinas?

When only the force necessary for protection is used.