A time to be born and a time to die: reflections on euthanasia

Euthanasia is, and probably will remain a controversial issue. Although many doctors will agree that under certain circumstances a demand for euthanasia should be granted (and in fact often is granted when the occasion arises), the subject generally gives rise to very emotional debates. Attempts to decriminalize euthanasia generally fail, and this contrasts sharply with the attitude of many towards issues like capital punishment and the objectives of, for example, the military. In this essay this apparent contradiction is discussed from the evolutionary biological point of view. It is argued that euthanasia always concerns the death of a member of some 'in-group' (which in some way we regard as part of ourselves), while capital punishment and the death of (political) enemies always concerns the death of members of some 'out-group'. It is inherent in our genetic make-up, evolved over millions of years, that we oppose the death of members of in-groups and are indifferent to (even promote) the death of members of out-groups. Attempts to regulate these inclinations by cultural and religious wisdom or commands ('[there is] a time to be born and a time to die' and 'love thy enemies like thyself') are only marginally successful, because biological urges generally dominate cultural notions.