Question

Write a 500-600 word essay:

Callahan argues that the value of self-determination alone is insufficient for justifying voluntary active euthanasia. He uses two examples to support his argument: slavery and dueling. Present Callahan’s argument as strongly as you can. Is this a convincing argument? Why or why not?

Answer 1

• Firstly, Callahan argues that voluntary active euthanasia is “consenting adult killing”, and allowing voluntary active euthanasia would create a new category of killing. Active euthanasia cannot be seen as suicide, because at least two people are involved. For example, a sick person is killed and his or her doctor is the killer . As a result, Callahan argues that voluntary active euthanasia is morally wrong.
• The problem is that is killing necessarily wrong? We know that when people kill for self-defence, the killing is morally acceptable. Also, under some circumstances, if killing is to help people, for instance, waging war to terrorists to protect the society, the killing is considered morally right. In the case of voluntary active euthanasia, doctors kill for helping sick persons at requests. In this case, the killing should be acceptable.
• Secondly, Callahan argues that acceptance of euthanasia would be at the risk of harm to the common good, in the name of individual view of the good life. Self-determination should be limited to be conditioned by the good of the community.
• Thirdly, Callahan argues that “we should not waive our right to life, and then give to another the power to take that life” .His argument is from analogy. Slavery or dueling is unaccepted because one person gives over his life and fate to another is morally wrong. Thus, he concludes that voluntary active euthanasia is morally wrong.
• This argument is invalid because its premise is wrong. Voluntary active euthanasia does not mean that a sick person give the doctors the power to take his or her life. Power means to have authority to make decisions.
• The doctors do not have power to make the decision of ending the sick one?s life. The doctors are just like tools, used by the sick person. On the contrary, the owner of slaves has the power to make choices of the slaves? fate and life.
• Similarly, in a dueling, you give power to your opponent to make choices of taking your life or not. Therefore, voluntary active euthanasia does not mean that a sick person is like slaves or in a dueling to give over his life and fate to others.