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Related Experiment Videos

Killing and letting die: hidden value assumptions.

G Atkinson

    Social Science & Medicine (1982)
    |January 1, 1983
    PubMed
    Summary

    The distinction between killing and letting die is more complex than commonly believed, involving hidden moral judgments. This complexity makes it an unreliable guide for ethical decision-making.

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    Area of Science:

    • Moral Philosophy
    • Ethics
    • Bioethics

    Background:

    • The concepts of killing and letting die are fundamental in ethical discourse.
    • Existing analyses often treat this distinction as purely descriptive.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the complexity of the ordinary distinction between killing and letting die.
    • To identify the normative underpinnings of this distinction.
    • To evaluate the utility of the killing/letting die distinction in moral reasoning.

    Main Methods:

    • Conceptual analysis of the killing/letting die distinction.
    • Examination of ordinary language and contexts.
    • Philosophical argumentation.

    Main Results:

    • The distinction between killing and letting die is not merely descriptive but contains a hidden normative component.
    • This normative element complicates the apparent simplicity of the distinction.
    • The complexity arises from implicit moral judgments embedded in ordinary usage.

    Conclusions:

    • The killing/letting die distinction, as commonly understood, is inadequate for sound moral reasoning.
    • Relying on this complex and normatively charged distinction can be hazardous in ethical deliberation.
    • A more nuanced understanding of moral agency and responsibility is required.
    Keywords:
    Analytical ApproachConsequencesDeath and EuthanasiaPhilosophical Approach

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