PHIL 1612 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Vitalism, Glendon College, Euthanasia
13 Mar 2016
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Keyserlingk sanctity of life and quality of life- are they compatible?". Sol: all human life regardless of its condition or state is intrinsically, absolutely and equally valuable. As such, the taking of any human life is wrong. Qol: the value of human life is relative to various qualities it exemplifies. When a human deteriorates to the point of losing such qualities the ending of such a life may be morally permissible. Sol appears to suggest that we must save life at all costs while qol appears to suggest that we can allow someone to die or even kill that person when their quality of life deteriorates: the resolution. Vitalism = all vital processes, physical biological processes, is human life. Sol must preserve all life at all costs; otherwise, we are playing god". Responses: (i) theological: god has allowed us to play god" (ii): through medical research and practice we already are in a sense playing god".
