• @hakunawazo
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    21 year ago

    On topic: Dignity includes being able to determine one’s own end. However, it is difficult to find a regulation that excludes knee-jerk reactions and external influence in the decision.

    A distinction should also be made here between different forms of temporary mental problems and fatal physical illnesses as a reason for ending the own life.

    That’s why I’m not sure what I would support here.

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
      -11 year ago

      What is dignity and why is it morally relevant? I’ll even let you assume that dignity by definition requires a third-party to provide assistance in active killing.

      • @hakunawazo
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        21 year ago

        Part of (inner) dignity is self-determination. So in the end, freedom again?

        • @[email protected]
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          fedilink
          -11 year ago

          And what is freedom? Why is it morally relevant? Using vague weasel words doesn’t really permit any evaluation of a claim. This is why statements like “freedom” and “liberty” are political claptrap you will never see them in formal ethics.

          • @hakunawazo
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            11 year ago

            The freedom and the secure feeling of being able to decide for yourself when you want to die under certain circumstances.
            For me, morality (right or wrong) comes into play when a balanced middle way has to be found between an individual’s lack of alternatives to dying and external help and advice against it.
            It’s almost the same issue as making counseling mandatory before an abortion.

            • @[email protected]
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              fedilink
              -11 year ago

              Again why is this relevant? This is simply vague posturing.

              You need to show that people have a right to have their wishes fulfilled, that this right extends to dying, and with much more difficulty show that society should place limits on it but cannot prohibit it.

              I would consider the latter to be impossible, because as soon as you permit a third-party to set criteria for the permissibility of an action, there is nothing stopping them from setting unachievable criteria.

              • @hakunawazo
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                11 year ago

                I partly agree to your last sentence. But this moral dilemma couldn’t be solved if we see it absolute black or white.

                To stay with the example of abortion: In my country, you need a state-recognized counselling certificate (by approved state or private organizations) for this and must comply with a wait time of three days. I don’t see any impossible hurdles here if you want to achieve this goal and they don’t change the rules by will. Of course, legislation could change this, but that would be another problem.