Ch 12 – Conclusion: Applying Ethical Theories

Abortion, Capital Punishment, and Euthanasia

Difficult Moral Issues

• Life and death decisions involved and all the difficult decisions that lie in-between

• Case Studies:1. Abortion2. Euthanasia3. The Death Penalty

Abortion• Morally relevant facts• Theories: Utilitarianism:– Pain of the fetus– Costs and benefits

• Feminist Ethics:– Forcing a woman to carry a pregnancy against her will

• Rights theorists and Libertarians:– Autonomy and right of non-interference

• Deontological concern for principle of respect for human life– Fetus is a person– Killing a person is wrong

• Virtue Ethics– Framework of flourishing

Euthanasia

• Morally relevant facts of the case• Libertarian: individual liberty and rights• Utilitarian: maximize overall utility• Deontological concerns: duty of self-love

precludes suicide, justice• Religious traditions: suicide forbidden as an act

of despair• Character: how address end of life care and

decisions?

The Death Penalty

• Morally relevant facts• Deontologists: lex talionis vs proportionality

and human decency• Character: honesty and self-awareness,

compassion• Utilitarian: cost-benefit, deterrence