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Identifier

000418017

Title

Εκούσια ενεργητική ευθανασία και ιατρικώς υποβοηθούμενος θάνατος σε ασθενείς τελικού σταδίου : βιοηθικοί προβληματισμοί υπό την έμπνευση των ηθικών θεωριών των Immanuel Kant και David Hume

Alternative Title

Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted dying in terminally ill patients: bioethical considerations concerning the moral theories of Immanuel Kant and David Hume

Author

Παππάς, Χαράλαμπος

Thesis advisor

Παπαδάκη, Λίνα

Reviewer

Τσινόρεμα, Σταυρούλα
Γαλανάκης, Εμμανουήλ

Abstract

My aim in this thesis is to explore and establish ways to morally justify voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted dying in terminally ill patients, drawing on the theories of Immanuel Kant and David Hume. A Kantian agent is a being with dignity and is bound to respect humanity in himself, as well as in others. Consequently, moral justification of medical assistance in dying can only be grounded on cases of impending loss of a person's humanity (rational capacities), and not plainly to avoid pain or unhappiness. On the contrary, Hume's moral psychology allows the justification of euthanasia in many cases without contradiction. Avoidance of pain and Humean agent's collapse of the empirically constructed ideal of character consist sufficient reasons for the shortening of a miserable life. Despite the similarities in some concepts analyzed by both philosophers, such as sympathy, moral sense and love, I believe that it is not possible to overcome the differences in the patient's formulation of motives and reasons to request euthanasia. I argue that the incomparable divergence of both theories, regarding the significance of notions of Practical Reason, dignity, sense of duty or emotions, affect crucially the moral justification of euthanasia. I reach the conclusion that the Kantian interpretative approach, though rigorous and demanding, is preferable, as it avoids cases of slippery-slope present in the Humean approach.

Language

Greek

Subject

David Hume

Euthanasia

Immanuel Kant

Physician-assisted dying

Ευθανασία

Ιατρικώς υποβοηθούμενος θάνατος

Issue date

2018-03

Collection