Introduction
My paper is about a Christian Ethical Theory in regarding assisted suicide. I first encountered the topic of assisted suicide and euthanasia during this course of Ethics 101. I have been affected by the way in which arguments presented against and for the case in legalizing different kinds of forms of assisted suicide. In some cases, it basically can be viewed as the product of religious based on different ideologies. There is a lack of thought in our world societies viewpoint in which that the proteins to assisted suicide and euthanasia are question and misunderstood and confused many times. I believe it is due to a large part on the failure when addressing the nature of humans and our personally selves that involves us in the ethical act or in doing assisted suicide. Within a Christian approach to the issue on assisted suicide it is and can be mixed up and many people have confusing complex thoughts on the topic to legalize it. No person wants to see a loved one in pain, I have seen my sister in this pain as she tried to commit suicide this past spring. Seeing her in the hospital almost made me want to join her so she wouldn’t have to bear the pain on her own. I truly do have any respect for the different types of death that can be performed. On the opposite side of the confusing conflict of assisted suicide, humans have and don’t have control of death, but it is against Christian beliefs and the Bible. My paper is going to be a viewpoint of what I think on Christian Ethics. There are theories of reality on assisted suicide and many others discussing potential arguments for and against assisted suicide while also sharing my general opinions on it. I believe it should be legal with care worldwide. I hope to offer a good view on assisted suicide and how it relates to my personal Christian Ethical Theory.
Ethical Theory
Meta-ethics is a huge debate in many people’s lives. This is a branch of ethics that seeks to understand the nature of ethical properties, statements, attitudes, and judgments. It is also the main of branch of ethics that all philosophers normally recognize. While meta-ethics is a big branch in the ethics theories, there are many approaches to these ethics and there are multiple different ways to understand the theories. We also must recognize that not all decisions are or can be deemed ethical, one’s moral principles acts as a guide for their behavior and decision making. Therefore, ethics do play a major role in decision making. My religion and spiritual beliefs shape my personal ethics. I grew up in a very Christian family so from a young age, I was instilled with a belief in God and His teachings, according to the Bible. As I get older, I am learning that a spiritual journey and relationship with God is one that is personal and cannot be easily taught or given by others. Therefore, I will admit that as I continue my personal journey with God, my personal ethics are still being developed and shaped. Some behaviors that I may have thought were acceptable in the past, I no longer view the same. According to our textbook, ethical relativism is “…what is actually right and wrong can vary from one person or group of people to another.” Our textbook defines utilitarianism as being “an act that can be judged moral or immoral by looking at its consequences for everyone affected. The option that produces the most good for the most people is the option to be chosen.” Some people would say yes, while others would say no. “Moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior.” Theoretically, the fact that an action is either moral or immoral is based upon the opinion of the person and what they believe. If their opinion is wrong, then the action therefore is also wrong. Which can add to the fact that issues like confusion can result. Making God, our Creator, set his rules behind of letting people make their own decisions and set his people straight. Making a person’s decisions based through God. This approach is the approach of the decisions that were made by the decision maker and his or her responsibilities. This approach will allow a lot of people their own decisions and with this comes great responsibilities through God. Therefore, if the decision maker believes in God, he would make the moral laws one of the main ideas that he follows. As God is his creator, the decision maker should believe in the laws that his God set and follow them as much as he possibly can. The decision maker should also talk in the way that his God would speak towards others. Our Creator wants us all to pass along his beliefs and rules, which will make sure that you understand the right and wrong. If there were no moral laws about being right or wrong, then theoretically there is no right and wrong for anyone. I hope that the issue I chose and touched on with my ethical theory helps better explain the theory. The theory I described in the most efficient way possible is the best way to handle any debate, whether it was with family problems or just a group organization that needs help deciding. Natural law theory assumes a moral epistemology in which one comes to know truly through discursive practical reason. Moral natural law should not be confused with the law of nature. Laws of nature describe how physical entities act. Laws of nature are descriptive not prescriptive. Natural law is concerned with how rational human beings ought to act, and here the key ingredients of human deliberation and choice are crucial. This is important because God offers each of us free will in and through scripture. Proverbs 16:9 NIV, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Matthew 7:12 KJV, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
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Assisted Suicide
Controversy pervades contemporary debate over the moral and legal or illegal status of assisted suicide and euthanasia. After researching assisted suicide, I have more questions than when I began. The definition of assisted suicide: suicide facilitated by another person, especially a physician, who organized the logistics of the suicide, as by providing the necessary quantities of a poison. After much research I have learned that assisted suicide is an option one has to make depending on their moral standards, will to live, and how they want to die rather than a factual process one can follow. Assisted suicide is currently legal in five states: Oregon, Vermont, Washington, California and Montana. Each state differs in the process toward obtaining physician assisted suicide approval, but all follow the generic rule that one must have the mental capability to communicate their own decisions regarding their terminal illness. I question how one can truly make such a decision for themselves if they are in pain from their terminal illness. In California they have the rule that one must submit two oral requests, each fifteen days apart, and a written request to the attending physician. I feel this is a great way of avoiding patients who may be making this decision based off impulsive drives and decisions. Other guidelines to being eligible for assisted suicide includes that one must be eighteen.
Conclusion
I have had this entire quarter semester of studying metaethics during this course, examining various ethical theories that promise to provide you with a methodology for determining right from wrong. These included the simple metaethics, Revelation Christian Ethic, as well as related metaphysical views such as Social Contract Theory, Moral Realism, Divine Command Theory, and Divine Nature Theory. During our reading of the textbooks, we have learned different metaethical theories that have had exceptional characteristics and some that were not so exceptional. Most of the metaethical theories by themselves are not resourceful enough to determine what is right and wrong. A versatile theory would include ethical relativism and utilitarianism combined with a Biblical worldview. According to our textbook, ethical relativism is “…what is actually right and wrong can vary from one person or group of people to another.” Our textbook defines utilitarianism as being “an act that can be judged moral or immoral by looking at its consequences for everyone affected. The option that produces the most good for the most people is the option to be chosen.” Moral or Immoral Should people have the power to act as God? Should scientific studies be limited? Some people would say yes, while others would say no. “Moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior.” Therefore, in an ideal world, ethics should play the ultimate role when deciding. If ethics are the principles which guides one’s behavior then, ideally, all decisions should be made entirely based on ethics. A few problems arise when one tries to make an ethical decision, especially as a leader. First, ethics may mean different things to different people. For example, my own personal religion and spiritual beliefs are the foundation for what I deem ethical. However, for someone else, ethics might be based on laws or their own personal understanding of what is. We also must recognize that not all decisions are or can be deemed ethical, one’s moral principles acts as a guide for their behavior and decision making. Therefore, ethics do play a major role in decision making. As previously mentioned, my religion and spiritual beliefs shape my personal ethics. I grew up in a very Christian family so from a young age, I was instilled with a belief in God and His teachings, according to the Bible. As I get older, I am learning that a spiritual journey and relationship with God is one that is personal and cannot be easily taught or given by others. Therefore, I will admit that as I continue my personal journey with God, my personal ethics are still being developed and shaped. Some behaviors that I may have thought were acceptable in the past, I no longer view the same. I am open to assisted suicide on a case by case basis. It is a deeply emotional and heartfelt issue; it is coping with the sickness and death of loved ones after all. It is difficult to watch a loved one suffer those involved consciously realize this person will die. Suffering and pain will dominate the lives of those who must go through such a traumatic experience, it is no different from the trivial stories of suffering in the Bible. A solution to assisted suicide is preventative care for these diseases to begin with.
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