FINAL #07

7.How does Peter Singer view euthanasia? Describe his reasoning process. Do you agree? Justify philosophically (explain in depth). (note: there are varying types of euthanasia so make sure to explain each and his position on each one of these and your position on each of these as well.)

peter singer stands to defend that euthanasia should be justified as an action that is NOT morally incorrect. he addresses three different types of euthanasia: voluntary, one in which the person to be killed requested so because he considers that his life is no longer worth living; involuntary, one in which the person to be killed is killed against his will to go on living or is killed prior to being asked for consent; and nonvoluntary, one in which the person to be killed is in such a condition that he cannot make a decision on whether to go on living or not. singer justifies voluntary and nonvoluntary euthanasia, but not involuntary. he considers involuntary as morally incorrect since it is done against the person's will to live on, and if the person chooses to live on, then clearly living on (although under pain) gives the person more pleasure and singer's utilitarian principle then justifies living on. this same argument goes for the voluntary euthanasia. nonvoluntary however, is quite differently argued. singer sticks with his utilitarian principle and claims that in case of defective birth, if the child cannot then lead a life of a good quality, then taking the life of the child is justified. for singer, such a thing as an unworthy life to live exists, and euthanasia is justified for those who are living unworthy lives.

i hold firmly to my belief that there is no life not worth living, no matter how painful or unpleasant. so regardless of the utilitarian principle that singer upholds, i am against the concept of euthanasia, involuntary or nonvoluntary. however, on the case of voluntary euthanasia, if the person keeps insisting that his life is not worth living, then no matter how hard i try to talk him into not doing it, i will not succeed. like gandhi, i also believe that a person knows what is best for himself, and thus if he thinks death is the best possible solution, then euthanasia is justified. but in the event where the person cannot make a decision for himself, then euthanasia should never be done. such a strong issue as euthanasia is only justified if personally requested by the person suffering.