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Ambiguities in 'killing' and 'letting die'
The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
|May 1, 1983
Summary
This paper examines the moral distinctions between killing and letting die. It argues that ambiguities in defining "killing" and "letting die" weaken existing philosophical arguments on the topic.
Area of Science:
- Moral Philosophy
- Bioethics
Background:
- Carla Kary (1980) argued for a moral difference between killing and letting die.
- Robert Coburn (1980) addressed the issue of defective newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the ambiguity in the concept of "killing" and its impact on Kary's argument.
- To examine the ambiguity in the concept of "letting die" and its effect on Coburn's position regarding defective newborns.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of ethical concepts.
- Critique of existing arguments in moral philosophy.
Main Results:
- Kary's argument is weakened by an unacknowledged ambiguity in the definition of "killing."
- Coburn's position on defective newborns is also weakened by an ambiguity in the definition of "letting die."
Conclusions:
- Clarifying the ambiguities in "killing" and "letting die" is crucial for moral and bioethical discussions.
- The study highlights the need for precise language in philosophical arguments concerning life and death decisions.
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