Active and Passive Euthanasia

Paper Topics

– You are asked to select one of the following 2 topics: (1) James Rachels on “Active and Passive Euthanasia” (Vaughn, pp. 678-681). In active euthanasia, there is a direct killing of a patient by a person, usually a physician, by means of an injection that ends the life of the patient. In passive euthanasia, there is the removal of life support, and if the patient dies, it is due to the underlying illness of the patient, not due to the actions of an agent (such as a physician). Do you think Rachels is correct to argue that, “the bare difference between killing and letting die does not, in itself, make a moral difference”? Is there a moral difference between active and passive euthanasia? Rachels says no, but what is his argument? Does his argument persuade you? Why or why not? ———————————————————————————— (2) Laura Purdy on “Can Having Children be Immoral?” (Vaughn, pp. 564-570). Is Purdy correct to argue that “it is morally wrong to reproduce when we know there is a high risk of transmitting a serious disease or defect”? What is her argument exactly based upon? Do you find her argument persuasive? Why or why not? Paper is to be 4-7 pages of close analysis of the arguments. The essay is to be constructed in APA Style. Finally: Included at the end of this syllabus, I have attached a rubric for the construction of your essays. The rubric contains 9 questions that you should be able to answer in the affirmative before you turn your essay in under ‘Turnitin’ (TII). For example here is the first question: 1. Does the introduction present a clear thesis statement? Does the introduction state the position the author will be arguing and give the reader a clear idea what to expect by describing the scope, focus and intent of the paper? Your thesis statement will either affirming or deny the position of Rachels or Purdy. I.e., “In this essay it will be argued that Laura Purdy is wrong to argue (or right to argue) that it is sometimes immoral to reproduce and have children of our own.”