Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
Challenging the standard argument for euthanasia, G. E. M. Anscombe holds that euthanasia does not comport with human dignity interpreted in terms of self-determination. For, were self-determination to ground any killing it would justify self-killing, not being killed by another. I articulate reasons for thinking that she correctly identifies the dissonance of self-determination with euthanasia. Additionally, I argue that the same holds, less obviously, for physician-assisted suicide (PAS, which she does not explicitly consider).
Moreover, Anscombe suggests that what actually occurs in euthanasia in effect equates a person to a humanely euthanized dog and, thereby, trivializes and degrades human lives and deaths. In response to advocates of euthanasia and PAS who think that our practice of pet-euthanasia positively recommends euthanizing our fellow humans (or assisting in their suicides), I develop Anscombe’s suggestion and show why euthanasia comports with the nature of animals while degrading humans (as does PAS).
Recommended Citation
Cavanaugh, T.A. (2016). Dignity, Pet-Euthanasia and Person Euthanasia In J. Mizzoni (Ed.), G.E.M. Anscombe and human dignity (pp 117-142). Aston, Pennsylvania : Neumann University Press.
