Would euthanasia be moral in situation ethics?
Situation ethics is another way of dealing with a moral dilemma, this time by assessing how kind the action would be and which would show the most love towards others. This teleological ethical theory was created by Joseph Fletcher, who adapted the teachings of Jesus in the new testament to help others make a decision of how moral an action really is.
The main concept of Situation ethics it that one should carry out the action in which displays the most agapé love towards others, much like in the Sermon on the Mount. Agapé love is a selfless and caring kind of love, and should be directed towards all people including enemies or people you have never met. Fletcher believed that the teachings in the new testament strongly related to the modern world, and that the most moral action in that situation must be the kindest and most selfless decision, as it would make more people happy as a result. Unlike some of the other ethical theories, situation ethics has no strict rules or guidelines, and therefore requires each person to consider the maxim independently and decide the morality of it themselves.
The morality of euthanasia when using situation ethics varies greatly depending on the viewpoint of the situation. For one, a family member, onlooker or a doctor would be more likely to see euthanasia as a better decision when following situation ethics. This is because if the patient would prefer to stop the pain and suffering they are receiving by assisted suicide and it would cause them the most happiness, letting them die would be the greatest act of agapé love. Helping the patient to end their suffering shows a caring attitude and more love than leaving them to experience even more pain. However, a patient may decide that euthanasia is immoral despite wanting to end their pain when considering the theory of situation ethics. Wanting assisted suicide is quite a selfish action and displays hardly any agapé love to family and friends who would grieve for the patient after their death, therefore in different situations with different people, euthanasia could be seen as both moral and immoral in situation ethics.
The main concept of Situation ethics it that one should carry out the action in which displays the most agapé love towards others, much like in the Sermon on the Mount. Agapé love is a selfless and caring kind of love, and should be directed towards all people including enemies or people you have never met. Fletcher believed that the teachings in the new testament strongly related to the modern world, and that the most moral action in that situation must be the kindest and most selfless decision, as it would make more people happy as a result. Unlike some of the other ethical theories, situation ethics has no strict rules or guidelines, and therefore requires each person to consider the maxim independently and decide the morality of it themselves.
The morality of euthanasia when using situation ethics varies greatly depending on the viewpoint of the situation. For one, a family member, onlooker or a doctor would be more likely to see euthanasia as a better decision when following situation ethics. This is because if the patient would prefer to stop the pain and suffering they are receiving by assisted suicide and it would cause them the most happiness, letting them die would be the greatest act of agapé love. Helping the patient to end their suffering shows a caring attitude and more love than leaving them to experience even more pain. However, a patient may decide that euthanasia is immoral despite wanting to end their pain when considering the theory of situation ethics. Wanting assisted suicide is quite a selfish action and displays hardly any agapé love to family and friends who would grieve for the patient after their death, therefore in different situations with different people, euthanasia could be seen as both moral and immoral in situation ethics.