International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 7 Issue 1, January-February 2023 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Euthanasia: Western Perspectives

Rubel Islam
Ph.D. Scholar, Department Philosophy, University of Gour Banga, Malda, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Rubel Islam

The Western civilization, emphasizing health, accepted the inevitable "Euthanasia: Western Perspectives"
end of even the strongest and healthiest individuals. The objective of Published in
this study is to demonstrate the shifting perspectives on euthanasia International
held by western thinkers throughout the course of our culture’s Journal of Trend in
Scientific Research
history. It will expand on the fact that there was no consensus on the
and Development
question of euthanasia in this society. Instead, they had many (ijtsrd), ISSN:
different beliefs, some of which were diametrically opposed to one 2456-6470, IJTSRD53837
another, somewhat unlike our own community now. In this study, it Volume-7 | Issue-1,
will focus mainly on how different western philosophers have viewed February 2023, pp.1189-1191, URL:
euthanasia at other moments in history. For the sake of brevity, it will www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd53837.pdf
provide a broad outline of some fundamental philosophical
intellectuals whose work has the potential to elevate western culture Copyright © 2023 by author (s) and
and morality. International Journal of Trend in
Scientific Research and Development
Journal. This is an
Open Access article
distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

INTRODUCTION
There has been a lot of debate over the morality of of euthanasia has been present since ancient times,
euthanasia since it is such a sensitive issue. Despite there has been a consistent ebb and flow of interest in
its widespread coverage in both scholarly and the subject throughout the course of history.
mainstream media, it is unclear which concepts and
Euthanasia: Western Perspective
semantics are used in the debate. The moral
In ancient Greece, the city of Sparta was home to a
ramifications of euthanasia revolve around the
medical community that conducted postmortem
question of whether or not euthanasia performed at
examinations on newborn boys or girls to determine
the patient's request is morally acceptable. The
whether or not the infants had any physical
antique Greeks did not necessarily associate the word
deformities that warranted the child's death. Plato, a
“euthanasia” with a means of expediting or speeding
philosopher from ancient Greece, was quoted as
the process of dying. In contrast, “euthanasia” was
saying at one point that those who were mentally and
frequently employed to describe suicides using fast-
physically sick should be allowed to die since they
acting and typically painless medicines like hemlock.
did not have the right to life. Pythagoras, another
It is a common misconception that Francis Bacon was
Greek philosopher, was vehemently opposed to the
the first person to advocate for the practice of
act of suicide because it relieved the person of duty
euthanasia. The ancient Greeks laid the groundwork
for the upkeep of life on Earth. Pythagoras believed
for the development of Western philosophy. The
that suicide was immoral. Since Hippocrates
debate over the ethics of euthanasia goes back more
disapproved of deliberately taking one's own life, he
than three thousand years (Cooper, 1989). While the
devised the idea for this oath. In ancient Rome,
idea of euthanasia dates back to ancient times, interest
assisted suicide, also known as euthanasia, was a
in the subject has waxed and gone throughout the
punishable crime and was equated to murder. Despite
ages. The Greeks’ contributions were critical to
this, the records reveal that sick neonates are often
forming western philosophical thought and practice.
left outside overnight to die. So, there were contexts
During the course of the last three thousand years,
in which assisting another people's suicide or
people have debated the ethical implications of
triggering their death was considered acceptable in
assisted suicide (Cooper, 1989). Even though the idea
antique Greek and Roman civilization.

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There is no equivalent to our idea of “mercy-killing” thought that the freedom to choose whether or not to
in either Greek or Latin. There is no name in either live should have nothing to do with determining
Greek or Latin for the premeditated death of another whether or not suicide is morally acceptable.
person to end their suffering from an incurable, However, current proponents of euthanasia put a
extremely severe, or agonizing ailment. Similarly, it priority on the right of a person to choose whether or
seems that none of the Greek schools of philosophical not to live. It was more necessary to objectively
ethics picked out this kind of action for the intent of appraise the individual's moral worth than for the
examination or critique. Part of this is because, with person to make their own determination about the
the limited scientific expertise of the time, primitive value of their own life.
people must have been conscious of the On the other hand, Aristotle held that suicide was
unpredictability of any judgment of incurability or never acceptable since it deprives society of a
premature death. Hence, it is possible that euthanasia contributing member. In the past, a succession of
was either not practiced often or was seen as an oaths and ethical standards have been used to outline
outlier because of how seldom the conditions were not just the obligations of a doctor but also their
met in which it was seen as permissible or even behavior and the rights of their patients. The
required. This is probably because primitive people Hippocratic oath is one of the cornerstones of
must have been aware of ambiguity. There is little contemporary medical practice. The Hippocratic Oath
doubt that the environmental concerns surrounding was written in 400 B.C. when both Plato and Aristotle
the offenders of individual murder added weight to were still alive and kicking. This commitment has
the injunctions of many faiths condemning such been made by the medical community in order to
murder (Cooper,1989). express the moral compass that directs their work.
The medical and ethical literature has been addressing Hippocrates shows his disapproval of the practice of
euthanasia at the same time as the public discussion, euthanasia by taking this oath and adhering to its
even if, in many respects, it has been operating tenets. His oath requires him to prioritize the
separately from it. Some people taking part in the requirements of patients above those of other
conversation think that euthanasia is never moral and physicians. He swore, “I will give no deadly medicine
an acceptable option for patients, regardless of the to anyone if he asks, or suggest any such counsel”
circumstances surrounding the individual patient. (Carrick, 1985).
Others contend that euthanasia is ethically In contrast to Plato, later Hellenistic and Roman
permissible in particular scenarios but that we need Stoics placed a higher value on the individual's
not change professional standards or the law to make pleasure than they did the group’s well-being. Even
it lawful. Last but not least, there are those people though these individuals encouraged savoring every
who think that euthanasia should be legalized because moment of life to the fullest, they also believed
they consider it to be a morally acceptable method of suicide to be a viable alternative in extreme
treating people who are terminally ill or dying. circumstances, such as when a “natural” lifestyle was
For millennia, thinkers and leaders in religious no longer feasible owing to conditions like as
communities have argued over whether or not suicide terminal illness or great poverty. Nevertheless, the
is a moral act. These conversations have centered on Stoics did not think having suicidal thoughts was
fundamental questions about the value of human life permissible in all circumstances. In contrast to current
and broad ideas of an individual’s responsibilities to defenders of a person's right to get assistance in
themselves and society. Antiquity thinkers like Plato, committing suicide, the Stoics believed that one
Aristotle, and Hippocrates, mediaeval thinkers like should only be allowed to contemplate suicide if they
Augustine, Aquinas, and contemporary thinkers like had lost the desire to live the life that God had created
Hume, and Kant all contributed significantly to this them for. Annaeus Seneca, who lived from 4 B.C.E.
debate. to 65 C.E., was among the Roman Stoics who
believed that individuals ought to have a great deal of
Nonetheless, certain ancient Greek philosophers
freedom in determining the moment at which they
believed that there were circumstances under which
should end their own life. Seneca is known for his
suicide may be acceptable. For instance, Plato
philosophy that places a higher value on pleasure than
believed that suicide was dishonorable in the majority
on continued existence. As a result, he promotes the
of circumstances but that it could be justifiable in the
idea that one should have the option to die with
case of a person who possessed a sinful and
honor.
unchangeable nature, who had committed an
infamous crime, or who had lost all sense of self- From the time the concept was first created, both
control as a result of extreme emotional distress. Plato Jewish and Christian theologians have been adamant

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in their rejection of suicide because it is antagonistic come as no surprise that ancient religious thinkers
to the common good and a breach of one’s opposed the practice of assisted suicide. This is
responsibilities before God. Aquinas propounded consistent with the philosophical perspective that
Catholic theology on suicide. His arguments affected every life is holy since it is a gift from the gods, and
Christian thought for decades after their first this gift must be honored. Despite this, evidence
presentation. Suicide, in Aquinas’s view, violates not shows that people in ancient Greece practiced
only the rights of other people and the society of euthanasia. Acceptance of death owing to factors
which the person is a part, but also God's rule over once seen to constitute divine retribution, like disease
life and the person’s commitment to himself and his or old age, is referred to as ars moriendi (the art of
natural impulse to reproduce himself. This approach, dying). Ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates,
which was reflective of the prevalent thinking on the Plato, and Seneca were among those who admitted
topic of suicide during the Middle Ages, the that euthanasia, sometimes known as the acceleration
Renaissance, and the Reformation, may be said to of death on purpose, was practiced in ancient Greece.
have been exemplified by the following: During the It seems that Socrates intentionally ended his life by
Renaissance period, Thomas More, who lived from poisoning himself with hemlock. Even in Plato’s
1478 to 1535, was a proponent of assisted suicide. He writings, the practice of hastening the death of the
thinks that those enduring extreme pain and nearing physically deformed, the terminally sick, and those
the end of their life should be offered the option of deemed to be of no service to the state is represented.
either starving themselves or using opiates to Hippocrates is only one of many medical
terminate their lives. David Hume provided the most professionals throughout history who have opposed
comprehensive and unqualified argument of suicide's the practice of physician-assisted suicide. Because, in
appropriateness. He argued that it was justified based fact, the Pythagoreans were the only school of
on individual liberty and society's welfare. Hume is thought in Greek philosophy to categorically prohibit
credited with being the first person to do so. Even the act of suicide.
though the person's death would make the community
Notes and References
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morally justified if the individual’s benefits Philosophical Perspectives on Abortion and
outweighed society's costs. In addition, if the person’s Euthanasia. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
passing would be helpful to society as well as the
individual, then suicide would be approved of in this [2] Cooper, J. M. (1989). Greek philosophers on
case. While Hume did not advocate for the euthanasia and suicide. In A. B. Brody (Ed.),
legalization of suicide in all circumstances, he did Suicide and Euthanasia (pp. 9-38). Kluwer
believe it was acceptable to end one's life in some Academic Publishers.
dire circumstances. Several prominent philosophers [3] Dowbiggin, I. (2007). A concise history of
who were active during the Enlightenment period, euthanasia: Life, death, God, and medicine.
such as Immanuel Kant, fought against the practice of Rowman & Littlefield.
suicide. According to Kant, the ultimate act of [4] Harris, J. (1985). The Value of Life: An
disobedience to a moral responsibility was to take Introduction to Medical Ethics. Routledge and
one’s own life. Since Kant believed that the ultimate Kegan Paul.
ideal for rational individuals was to preserve their [5] Keown, J. (2004). Euthanasia Ethics and
own life, he saw suicide as incompatible with the Public Policy: An Argument Against
human experience’s dignity. Kant, like some current Legalisation. Cambridge University Press.
opponents of euthanasia, thought that self-mutilation
[6] Manning, M. (1998). Euthanasia and
was incompatible with the idea of autonomy when
physician-assisted suicide: killing or caring?.
understood in its proper context. Kant contends that
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to exercise one’s autonomy, rather than just acting
following their whims and desires, one voluntarily [7] Paterson, C. (2017). Assisted suicide and
subjects their impulses and inclinations to their euthanasia: a natural law ethics approach.
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[8] Tooley, M. (2005). In Defense of Voluntary
Conclusion
Active Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. In A.
From the beginning of human civilization, people
I. Cohen, & C. H. Wellman, (Eds.)
have struggled to come up with a morally justifiable
Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics.
definition of what constitutes a “good death” for a
Blackwell Publishing Ltd (pp.161-178).
person who has reached the end of their life. It should

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