Euthanasie a etika. Druhá část. Úvahy o euthanasii v díle Jamese Rachelse
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Abstract
Abstrakt: Tento příspěvek je druhým příspěvkem v sérii článků zaměřených na vývoj etického pojetí eutanazie. Problém eutanazie řeší na pozadí slavné Rachelsovy publikace The End of Life. Rachels je autor zastávající novodobou koncepci utilitaristické morálky. Ve své publikaci The End of Life velmi podrobně probírá všechny důležité momenty filosofické a etické diskuse o eutanazii a vytyčuje tak kontury území, na němž se jak zastánci jeho závěrů, tak i jejich odpůrci, musí pohybovat. Hovoří o posvátnosti lidského života, rozebírá různé formy eutanazie, kriticky hodnotí některé důležité distinkce, široce a někdy nekriticky užívané v lékařské etice: rozdíl mezi usmrcením (killing) a ponecháním zemřít (letting die), mezi řádnými a mimořádnými léčebnými prostředky, mezi aktivní a pasivní eutanazií. Důležitým prvkem Rachelsovy reflexe je i diskuse o důležitosti úmyslu (intence) v etickém vyhodnocování lidských skutků.
Abstract: This contribution is the second of a series of articles devoted to the ethical evaluation of euthanasia. It discusses the problems of euthanasia on the background of Rachel´s famous book The End of Life. Rachels as an author is holding a modern concept of utilitarian morality. In his publication The End of Life he discusses in detail all the important moments of philosophical and ethical debate about euthanasia. In this way he also outlines the contours of the territory for his proponents as well as their opponents for recent discussion on euthanasia and end of life decisions. He talks about the problems of conception of the sanctity of human life, discusses the various forms of euthanasia, critically evaluates some important distinctions between terminology in medical ethics: the difference between killing (killing) and allowing to die (letting die), between ordinary and extraordinary means of treatment, the active and passive euthanasia. One of the most important element of Rachels´ reflection is also the importance of intention in the ethical evaluation of human acts.
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