What is a death with dignity?
Proponents of the legalization of assisted suicide often appeal to our supposed right to "die with dignity" to defend their case. I examine and assess different notions of "dignity" that are operating in many arguments for the legalization of assisted suicide, and I find them all to be deficient. I then consider an alternative conception of dignity that is based on Aristotle's conception of the conditions on the best life. I conclude that, while such a conception of dignity fits best with our intuitions about the conditions under which a life has dignity, it supports the legalization of assisted suicide only under very limited circumstances.
Gentzler
Jyl
J
Department of Philosophy, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA. jgentzler@amherst.eud
D005065:Euthanasia / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D012297:Right to Die / Q000941:ethics* / Q000266:history*