Can Killing People be Justified

Introduction

It seems like a pretty widely accepted view that killing people is wrong. I might even go so far as to say that killing another person is pretty much the worst thing a person could possibly do. Although, is that always the case? Should we never think about killing people, or are there some exceptions to the rule?

In this project, I will be discussing what some people and cultures have to say about killing people. Also, I’ll look at some major issues in everyday life when we feel it is justified to kill people. These things will include euthanasia and capital punishment, as well as the views of some well known religions. Finally, I will look at a couple of examples that might begin to change your mind about killing people.

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Part 1-Euthanasia

Euthanasia is hugely controversial, so it seems fitting to begin such a controversial project by looking at it. Euthanasia is assisted suicide or “mercy killing”. There are many other definitions and types of euthanasia, but that is not the point of this project. Many people, including the three major Monotheistic religions; Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, believe that euthanasia is unethical and breaches a persons right to life. In some countries, such as Switzerland euthanasia is legal, and there are several “euthanasia clinics” where people who wish to end their life (often because of disease) can choose to go to and receive a quick, painless death. I think that in this case, I would be with the majority in thinking that that is OK. It is their right to die and they are not harming anyone in doing so.

But hang on a second. That’s just one type of euthanasia. Haven’t we all heard stories where a doctor has pulled the plug on somebody with days to live? I am pretty sure that this is not OK. Surely someone needs to at least give their permission to be killed? But this opens up a whole new ball game; I mean, haven’t we just agreed that euthanasia is alright? But what about this, this is still euthanasia. For simplicity’s sake, lets just term this one “involuntary euthanasia, and the previous one “voluntary euthanasia”.

I still think we might be missing a trick here. What do the people who we think want to die have to say? Do they really want to die, or do they have a condition that deludes them. Last week, in a speech given by Lady Campbell, who lives with the degenerative condition of muscular atrophy, she had this to say: