Arguments Against Euthanasia

1646 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Euthanasia should be legalized 5 introduction body conclusion

Global Analysis

Out of the three anti-euthanasia articles that I have thus far analyzed, two share a similar pattern. Both the American Medical Association's “Opinion 2.21 – Euthanasia” and William F. May's “Rising to the Occasion of Our Death” utilize values as objects of agreement, or grounds of a proposed policy (value judgements). According to Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca’s “Facts, Values, and Hierarchies” piece, objects of agreements serve the premises and focus on finding common ground – or “what is supposed to be accepted by the hearers [to get the] agreement of the audience” (Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca 65). Since euthanasia is an ethical subject, value-based arguments are abundant in terms of policy arguments.

Both May and the AMA appeal to the morality of their audiences in order to convince them to act against active euthanasia, defined by May as “mercy killings” and by the AMA as the “administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient’s intolerable and incurable suffering” ("Opinion 2.21 – Euthanasia."). More specifically, they are appealing to the value of what is “good” for the individual suffering, for their loved ones, and for society.

Their appeals to values are not simply opinions, however; this appeal can actually be treated as a fact or a truth. Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca qualify that in order for a value to be taken as a truth or fact, it must be universally acknowledged, and in order for it to be universally acknowledged, it must be vague. “It is by virtue of their being vague,” these authors proclaim, “that these values appear as universal values and lay claim to a status similar to that of facts” (Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca 76). Nevert...

... middle of paper ...

...veryone, because the AMA and May were able to show that their standards of evaluating morality fell under their audience's general system of belief of not murdering anyone, they were able to overcome the obstacle of differing value hierarchies.

Works Cited

Agatucci, Cara. "Cora Agatucci's Toulmin-Style Analysis of May's Argument." WR 122 Course Home

Page. N.p., 06 Jan. 2010. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.

May, William F. "Rising to the Occasion of our Death." The Christian Century Jul 11 1990: 662.

ProQuest. Web. 31 Mar. 2014

"Opinion 2.21 – Euthanasia." Opinion 2.21 – Euthanasia. American Medical Association, June 1996.

Web. 16 Mar. 2014.

Perelman, Chaïm, and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca. Facts, Values, and Hierarchies, The New Rhetoric.

N.p.: n.p., n.d. PDF.

The Stases and Other Rhetorical Concepts from Introduction to Academic Writing. N.p.: n.p., n.d. PDF.

Show More
Related

  • The Arguments Against Euthanasia

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    The word euthanasia translates from Greek roots as “a good death”. The original meaning “ a gentle and easy death” which evolved to mean “the actions of inducing a gentle and easy death”. In ancient Greece and Rome, before the coming of Christianity, attitudes toward infanticide, active euthanasia, and suicide had tended to be tolerant. Many ancient Greeks and Romans had no cogently defined belief in the inherent value of individual human life, and pagan physicians likely performed frequent

    Read More

  • Arguments Against Euthanasia

    2226 Words  | 5 Pages

    word euthanasia is derived from Greek language where 'eu’ meaning good and 'thanasia’ meaning death. Euthanasia is also known as the practice of intentionally ending a life of person who is either suffering from an incurable disease or is in immense pain. In other words euthanasia is physician assisted dying (PAS). The influence of scientific and medical discoveries in the recent times has changed the nature of debate on human euthanasia, and people on opposing sides have different arguments on human

    Read More

  • Arguments Against Active Euthanasia

    1186 Words  | 3 Pages

    Within the medical community euthanasia is a controversial issue which arises when the death could be a viable and acceptable alternative to life. According to Medical News Today, euthanasia is defined as “a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable, persistent, and unstoppable suffering.” The practice has been deemed illegal in a variety of countries and states, but some people may sympathize with the patient’s desire to end suffering through death. With

    Read More

  • Williams Arguments Against Euthanasia

    2026 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Author of the article claims that euthanasia is inherently wrong and can lead to drastic problems in our society with various support claims.  In my paper, I shall summarize and evaluate the argument. In the end, I believe that it is unsuccessful and I will explain and defend my assessment. The Expert Panel on End of Life Decision- Making defines voluntary euthanasia as “an act undertaken by one person to kill another person whose life is no longer worth living to them in accordance with the

    Read More

  • Minelli's Argument Against Euthanasia

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    about how she will finally be out of suffering; or wondering for the rest of their lives if miracles do happen, that would have allowed for their children to have a grandmother? Over the years, there has been much controversy as to whether or not euthanasia should be legal or not. Through evidence, it is clear that the morals behind this concept are just simply wrong. It allows for a large gap of abuse through poor influence from doctors, family members, and suffering from severe depression. Though

    Read More

  • Alternative Arguments Against Euthanasia

    1140 Words  | 3 Pages

    Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering. It has become a very heated topic with many people having different views on it. Many people argue that a person should have control of their life and be able to decide how and when they die. Other people believe that euthanasia should not be legalized and there are many reasons to support that. Three of the types of arguments against euthanasia I am going to talk about are the slippery slope argument, the medical

    Read More

  • Arguments Against Active Euthanasia

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people debate whether the act of Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide is an at of killing or caring. Euthanasia occurs when a patient cannot endure the pain and suffering anymore or if they are terminally ill. If making the decision to perform Euthanasia is agreed upon it consists of directly giving the lethal medication to the patient. The philosopher, James Rachels believed Active Euthanasia under certain circumstances was morally acceptable. I agree with James Rachels for many reasons

    Read More

  • Personal Arguments Against Euthanasia

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is Euthanasia? I truly did not know the correct way to answer this question prior to this essay. As I looked to the Webster Dictionary, I found the correct definition; “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.” As I read this definition, I sit and ponder the positives and negatives that could come from this. The main argument for Euthanasia that I

    Read More

  • Ethical Arguments For and Against Voluntary Euthanasia

    2042 Words  | 5 Pages

    Euthanasia is defined as an 'act of killing someone painlessly to relieve his or her suffering'[1]. It's etymology is derived from the Greek 'eu thanatos' which means a good death. It is a contentious issue that provokes strong arguments for and against changing UK legislation to permit it. The UK currently prohibits active euthanasia. Active euthanasia is an act where the intention is to end or deliberately shorten someone's life. A doctor will administer a drug such as morphine or potassium

    Read More

  • Bamgbose's Argument Against Euthanasia

    559 Words  | 2 Pages

    every day. An acedemic journal by Oluyemisi Bamgbose (2004) discusses the debate on euthanasia. He quotes about the comfort of the patient “A problem arises, however within the same sphere of medical sciene, where it is considered a burden to continue stustaining the life of a patient who, whether by reason of severe pains...would be...better off dead”(pg.112) When it gets to the point of the deciding factor of euthanasia, the patient is the one who is struggling

    Read More

  • Arguments Against Animal Euthanasia

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    Animal euthanasia can be a very serious issue to talk about. Everyday, thousands of unwanted and stray animals were put into animal shelters. When an animal is suffering from illness and has no chance to survive, euthanize it may be the most humane thing to do. However, there are many animals shelters (kill shelters) in the United States that euthanized animals even the healthy ones to make more room and because they are low on money. Many people called this action “murder”. However, if you really

    Read More

  • A Christian's Arguments For or Against Euthanasia

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    Euthanasia is the act of bringing about the easy and gentle death, usually someone who is terminally ill or in great pain, which is why some recognise euthanasia as 'mercy killing'. There are many types of euthanasia: Non-voluntary euthanasia is when the person concerned is no longer in a condition where they can make a decision for themselves, and that their death can be caused by their relatives or medical experts. Active or voluntary euthanasia is when the person concerned asks someone

    Read More

  • Controversial Arguments Against Euthanasia

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    To be, or not to be euthanasia is, the question Euthanasia is a controversial argument; it is a unnatural way to die, it relieves pain and suffering, and it affects not only the patient but the families. Euthanasia is an Issue that must be Considered and Applied to our Everyday Lives. If you start to think about euthanasia then you will see that it can be a matter of good and bad. Good you will see that people that are suffering of an incurable illness will want to die instead of live in pain.

    Read More

  • John Harris's Argument Against Euthanasia

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Dogs do not have many advantages over people, but one of them is extremely important: euthanasia is not forbidden by law in their case; animals have the right to a merciful death.”- Milan Kundera. When a dog gets old and can't complete its everyday tasks without trouble the owners usually opt to have the dog put down, but in the case of humans euthanasia is forbidden and the best option for them is pain treatment which usually helps a little but does not make life enjoyable. By trying to prolong

    Read More

  • Brock's Arguments Against Active Voluntary Euthanasia

    1856 Words  | 4 Pages

    Euthanasia is considered to be “a good death,” which allows a patient to die without pain. Active voluntary euthanasia is a procedure which expedites the process of a terminally ill patient to die quicker. In his argument, Philosopher Daniel Brock supports the reasoning that active voluntary euthanasia should be allowed. In one of his arguments, Brock develops based on the overall “well-being” of the patient. The “well-being”

    Read More

More about Arguments Against Euthanasia

Open Document