(June 17, 2010 at 6:27 pm)Paul the Human Wrote: Do you agree with the ideas put forth by people like Peter Singer (concerning 'Applied Ethics') or the concept of Utilitarian Bioethics in general? Does the 'Greater Good' have more value than the individual?
I am personally disturbed by the idea. I do however, understand the benefits to mankind and the planet, if one could take compassion and empathy out of the equation... but who draws the lines in the sand? Who decides?
Utilitarian Bioethics are becoming more and more influential in policymaking procedures and is being taught to most of the medical students in the world. Is this a good thing?
Utilitarianism is concerned with the individual, it seems to me. It stands to reason that it, if it's good to advance the wellbeing of one individual, it's better to advance the wellbeing of several, even at the expense of one.
As for compassion, utilitarianism is just compassion distributed in a rational manner. Again, it takes our compassion to the logical conclusion: namely, that whilst we may be emotionally disinclined to harm someone, allowing the harm of more people is surely more morally reprehensible. Who decides is an important question, but the risk of a sinister Orwellian state is usually exaggerated. Besides, someone has to decide. Like it or not, in hospitals there are limited resources (e.g. organs), and the distribution of these resources must be decided on a utilitarian basis. There is no other practical way to decide what to do.
'We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.' H.L. Mencken
'False religion' is the ultimate tautology.
'It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions.' Mark Twain
'I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.' Abraham Lincoln
'False religion' is the ultimate tautology.
'It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions.' Mark Twain
'I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.' Abraham Lincoln
