Eutanazie a klasický hedonismus. Hedonism and Euthanasia
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Abstract
Abstrakt: Hlavním cílem článku Hedonismus a eutanazie je ilustrovat komplexní vztahy mezi hédonismem jako teorií welfare a problémem racionality sebeusmrcení, asistovaného sebeusmrcení a eutanazie. Článek je rozdělený na tři části. První část přináší stručný popis hédonismu a vrcholí definicí standardního hédonismu. Druhá část se věnuje problému, zda smrt může v některých (výjimečných) situacích představovat racionálně ospravedlnitelnou volbu. Třetí a konečná část spojuje konsekvencialismus s tradičním hédonismem do standardního utilitarismu a předkládá přímý argument ve prospěch závěru, že asistovaná smrt může být eticky přijatelnou (dokonce povinnou) volbou. Ukazuje však, že hédonismus není adekvátní teorií dobrého života, a proto nakonec etický argument ve prospěch asistované smrti odmítá.
Abstract: The overall aim of the article “Hedonism and Euthanasia” is to illustrate the complex interplay between hedonism as a theory of welfare and the problem of the rationality of suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia. The article is divided into three parts. In the first part, it provides a succinct description of hedonism culminating in the definition of standard hedonism. The second part deals with the problem of whether death can in some (exceptional) circumstances represent a rationally justifiable choice. The third and final part combines consequentialism with standard hedonism, obtaining standard utilitarianism, and sets forth a straightforward argument for the conclusion that assisted death might be an ethically acceptable (even obligatory) choice. However, hedonism is shown to be an inadequate theory of good life and, consequently, the ethical argument for assisted death is rejected.
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