Question

1) Describe how health care benefits should be distributed in society according to libertarian and egalitarian theories of justice. 2) How can the principle of autonomy and the principle of beneficence be used to justify active voluntary euthanasia? 3) Explain how one might employ the distinction between 'killing' and 'letting die' in order to argue against active voluntary euthanasia. 4) Why is the question of whether or not human embryos have the moral status of persons relevant to the moral debate concerning (human embryonic) stem cell research?

Answer 1

1. Libertarianism is a collection of political philosophies and movements that uphold liberty as a core principle. Libertarians seek to maximize political freedom and autonomy, emphasizing freedom of choice, voluntary association and individual judgment.

Egalitarianism is a school of thought that prioritizes equality for all people. Egalitarian doctrines maintain that all humans either should "get the same, or be treated the same" in some respect, such as social status.

According to the libertarian and egalitarian theory of justice the healthcare benefits should be distributed in the society equally to all . Not differentiation on the basis of race ,colour ,creed ,social status etc.

2. Autonomy is the ability to take independent decision and beneficence means doing good ,not to harm . Both of them are the ethical principles which has to be followed by the professions in their practice . Both of these principle can be used to justify active voluntary euthanasia because voluntary means decisions taken by oneself and euthanasia is killing a person to prevent the pain to be faced by the patient at the extre terminal stage when no treatment is effective .

3. Killing - to kill some one is to take a definite action to end his or her life . Example - administration of a lethal drug

Letting die - to allow some one to die , is to take no steps to prolong that patient's life when those steps seem called for failing . Example - failing to give a needed injection of antibiotics

The distinction is the basis for differentiating two forms of euthanasia ,active and passive . Active euthanasia is killing a patient who request to die . Passive euthanasia is allowing a person to die who request to die .