Presentation Guidelines Introduction to Ethics, fall 2007

The following should serve as both suggestions and guidelines for your presentation.

The goal of the assignment is for you to become comfortable with discussing the issues surrounding a
particular ethical theory or a particular position on an ethical issue, as well as to get you to think about the
best way to explain a position in philosophy. You should not only include in your presentation most of the
information in the list below, but also have thought about the theory or position and be able to answer
general questions from listeners. This does not mean that you must know everything about a theory or
position, but you should be adept at explaining the basic concerns surrounding it.

More than one person should talk when presenting. Feel free to assign “experts” to different aspects (e.g.,
one person gives the motivation, one gives the argument for, one criticizes, and one fields questions),
though it is not necessary that you do so.

If presenting on a theory, please consider the following:

 What is the basic idea of the theory?
It is better to end someone’s life quickly rather than allowing them to suffer
Give patient choice
Only terminally ill patients
- At the request of the terminally ill patient, euthanasia is a practice of ending their life in a
minimally painful way for the purpose of limiting suffering.

 What is the right-maker according to the theory?

 What reason might be offered to think the theory is correct? Alternatively, why go with this theory
rather than another? (Another way to put it, what is intuitively correct about this theory?
 What argument can be offered in favor of the theory?
 What criticism can be offered against the theory?
 Are there any secondary issues that this theory is particularly susceptible to or deals well with?

If presenting on an issue, pick ONE author and consider the following:

What is the issue under consideration?
–Euthanasia
- Whether or not, at the request of the terminally ill patient, euthanasia is a practice of ending
their life in a minimally painful way for the purpose of limiting suffering.

 What is it that is under discussion? That is, which aspect of the issue is being discussed and how
does it relate to the larger issue?
- choice vs respect for life
- personal rights
- is it better to be stuck in life with unbearable pain, pg 157, then have the freedom of choosing to
life or die
- slave vs. corpse

 What is the author’s position on the issue?

- Rachels
- MERCY KILLING - Euthanasia is justifiyed when death is the only escape from suffering
 o Referencing page 153 quote “if a person prefers or even begs for death as the only
alternative to lingering on in this kind of torment only to die anyway after a while then
surely it is not immoral to help this person die sooner.” RACHELS
o Pg 153 Alsop – no human being with spark of pity could let a living thing suffer so, to
no good end.
o Story of Jack by Alsop…
 Case of Cancer Patient
 A 28yr old cancer patient, in horrible pain, that they had to give hime a
synthetic opiate every 4 hours and it started to ware off after 2 hrs. after 3
hours, he was howlering in pain so loud nurse gave him codine., which did not
help at all. This is the most advanced cancer hospitals in the country. For the
majority of the 3rd hour, he was still in so much pain!
 ANIMAL MERCY KILLING

 What argument can be offered in favor of the author’s position?

o Utilitarianism – acts are morally right if they increase the amount of happiness in the
world. So Rachels argues that terminally ill patients suffering if put to death would
decrease the amount of pain in the world.
o Argument that proves euthanasia can be justified.
 If the action is in the best interest of everyone and violates no ones rights then it is
morally acceptable.
 In at least few circumstances, euthanasia is in the best interest of everyone and does
not violate no ones rights.
 So it must be morally acceptable.
o Overturning sanctity of life- Robert Risley– assisted suicide vs. respect for life. You can
overturn s of life prncipal by saying that a ife of suffering is not really a life to cherish. We
should respect decision of death chosen over life because it is individuals decision for their
future. Their right to die.

 What possible criticism(s) is the position susceptible to?

o Argument of Respect for life – suicide –
 “Richard Doorflinger” argues against assisted suicide because it deprives a person
of life and happens to often. Human life is sacared because it was created in the
image of God.
o Slippery Slope -
 Vulnerability of elderly patients
• Not quite capable of making the decision for themselves and feel pressured
to relieve others of their burdens of life.
 Healthcare costs –
• Healthcare companies/medicare people might be in support of ending
peoples lifes rather than spending money on people who are already going
to die.
• Incentives to control passive health care
o Physicians, hospitals, insurance, families
• Promote suicide to save economic stability
  Substituted judgment
• Doctor assisted suicide might lead to a system when people who cant
express their wishes be forced to the use of euthanasia as a default.
 Broad definitions of terminal illness.
• When is someone truly terminally ill to fall eligible under the category of
euthanasia.
 Prejudice against elderly –
• people with diabilities might have pressure to end their lifes because of the
prejudices they encounter with their disabilities.
 Character of the medical profession
• Doctors didn’t use to like performing abortions and now many are against
performing euthanasia, but now as it becomes more common, more
accepted, now people of the medical profession are becoming more
comfortable with performing it. Pg 163
• most physicians abandon the traditional medical self image, which rejects
direct killing of patients in all circumstances, theyre new sub self image
may require ever more aggressive efforts to make this killing more widely
practiced and favorably received.
 Human will to power that some people might abuse because theres sort of a
virginity of murder. Pg 163 James Burtchaell. KAVORKEE?

o Life vs. Freedom –
 declaration of independence says that we have alienabe rights of life liberty and
persuit of happiness, but life is the more fundamental because you must have this
right to have the others.
 Pg 158 suicide is not
 COUNTER RESPONSE - Also the slavery thing, askewed perception. Better to
have no freedom at all..aka dead… than to have a little freedom

 Questions to Consider:
o

For both types, try to offer some direction for discussion at the close of your presentation. This should not
simply be asking, “What do you think?” Be more directive.

The presentation should be roughly 15 minutes long and include a handout of roughly 1-2 pages (please
put the names of all group members on the handout). Pay particular attention to how you explain things.
Please be clear! Expect questions after you present, and note that, even if no one else has a question, I
will.

Your grade will be a reflection of how clearly you explain things and how well you grasp the material.

I recommend meeting with your group early and discussing the issue and coming up with a rough
presentation. Then give yourselves time to think. Then come back together and go over it again and try to
finalize the presentation. The earlier you start, the more sophisticated your presentation will be.