The real presentation
- 1. AssistedsuicideKnowledge Issue: How can we decide if assisted suicide should be allowed in Norway or not?
- 2. Page 15Who cares? (Lagemaat, 2004)
- 4. Definitionshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk3ri1ADIsI – Explaining the machineSick or old people without a future, best case 2 more yearsLooking from patient, family, doctor and society point of viewOpen for discussion and comments throughout the presentation
- 5. PerceptionCommon-sense relativism:The decision depends upon the situation, such as “how bad is the patient suffering?”
- 6. ReasonDeductive: From the general to specific: Should this be looked on a lot of people and by those big numbers, conclude if some should be allowed or not?Inductive:From specific to general: Should this be looked into on a few people and by those small numbers, conclude if all should be allowed or not?
- 7. EmotionsEmotional colouring: You may think by reason that this would be the best for all the patients and this would shorten the period of grief, but imagine yourself having a sick father, wouldn’t you want him to live as long as possible?Apathy: Should we in this case simply turn to reason and don’t care about emotions at all?Stoicism: Should we turn to stoicism which blocks out negative emotions?
- 9. Natural ScienceMeasuring: Can we measure and prove that the patient really wants to die and he is not pushed by others?Compare with animals: Weak and old is often left to die, instead of being protected and cared for, if there is no hope, why do we humans go so extremely far for a single life?
- 10. Human ScienceLanguage, reason, free-will, creativity and self-consciousness: Does this make us ‘worthy’ humans, not just animals, and thus we are so powerful that we are worth fighting for? We are not the only specie that is self-conscious, so why us?Observer-effect: If entire family says he should do it, he might feel forced to. Or opposite, if entire family says he shouldn’t, he may have to bear great pain for the family, even though he doesn’t really want it.Loaded question: If doctor comes to the patient and asks: “You may not live for very long, and I may offer you assisted suicide, will you do it?” instead of saying: “You may not live for very long, and I may offer you assisted suicide, it is all up to you.”Law of Large numbers: Some may be using this option while not really needing it, while others do desperately need it, the difference between -1 (not really needing it) to +1 (desperately needing it) and these will cancel out into 0 making assisted suicide and neutral option.
- 12. HistorySelf-realising expectation: Assisted suicide have been allowed and worked well in Switzerland, why shouldn’t we?Economic determinism: Development of a country is ruled by the development of the economy, if we want development, shouldn’t we allow assisted suicide, as the sick being cared for is a negative thing for the economy?
- 13. EthicsValue judgement: The value of this person’s life, compared to the value of this person’s and his family’s long sorrow.Moral and moral principles: Is this immoral?Absolutivity: Is this issue out of question and is simply a matter of being immoral, thus it shouldn’t be discussed?Rule worship: Should we simply go by the rules that have already been set and not discuss this?Moral relativism: But some say this is immoral, others say it is rather immoral to let him suffer. We have different morals, so shouldn’t the strongest arguments decide?Self-interest: In a case of a rich person, maybe the family around simply want his money? In a case where the person is really suffering, should he decide for himself, regardless of what the family thinks of him? Should the family decide, as they really want the person alive?Duties and rights: Is it our right to control our own life and death? Is it our duty to stay alive for our families? Is it our right to die when we are old and sick?Kant’s approach: Generalizing: What if everyone had assisted suicide when they became old and sick, or simply had no future to work for?Utilitarianism: Maximize happiness, which option is the best? A year of being cared for and having family around crying over your coming death, or die right away, let them cry for a week and get over it?Maximize society: If everyone accepted assisted suicide, would the society be better off economically and happier? Empathy: Shouldn’t the family understand that this person is really suffering, thus allowing him his will?Altruism: Should the person not think about himself, but simply understand that the family wants him? Should the person not think about himself, but simply understand that he is a burden for the family and everyone around him? Golden Rule: Do to others what you want others to do for you. You want your sick father to live, just as the day you are sick, you want to stay alive for your family’s sake? You want your father to accept assisted suicide, just as you want to accept assisted suicide the day you are sick?
- 14. ReligionGod’s creation: If we are part of God’s creation, are we unworthy the decision of life and death?God’s will:Shouldn’t God be the only one making the decision?
- 15. SummaryPage 15Who cares?(Lagemaat, 2004) Open discussion
- 16. Vote for and against
- 17. UnconcludedSources:Theory of Knowledge (Laagemat, 2004)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk3ri1ADIsI