Virtue Ethics: The Ethical Theory Of Euthanasia

The word euthanasia derives from greek origins that translates to ‘good death’. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines euthanasia as the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy. The controversy surrounding euthanasia stems from whether an individual with a disability is able to make the choice to put an end to their life. It is difficult to establish whether the individual has a rational state of mind. Philosophical theories of morality and rationality can be applied to an individual’s right to death with dignity. Ethical philosophers such as Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill, describe three separate moral beliefs that each propose a different view on an individual’s right to autonomy. Aristotle was against euthanasia, due to his theory of virtue ethics and aiming to achieve morally correctness. Immanuel Kant was not concerned with consequences, but rather intentions. If euthanasia was an ethical response, then it would be regarded as a good act. John Stuart Mill supported euthanasia, for his ethical theory dictates that so long as an action is not causing harm to anyone else, it is admissible. Public policies that prohibit euthanasia violate the principle of moral autonomy of individuals because as long as an individual has a …show more content…
The following three arguments will subsequently be anaylzed in the philosophical context of moral theories put forth by Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill. The first argument in favour of permitting euthanasia is that when an individual is suffering from a terminal disease or unbearable pain, it it seen as morally just to allow them to terminate their life, rather than forcing them to continue suffering. Euthanasia in this scenario is perceived as a humanitarian solution through