Humanities are a wide field of research. Every field of the topic can have ethical issues. This essay is aimed at revealing two fields of humanities tightened together by one ethnic issue. In the paper, I will reveal such topics as death penalty in law and euthanasia in medicine. Both issues are rather discussible and significant to solve.
Many scientists argue that neither euthanasia, nor death penalty should be implemented and used in the modern society. On one hand, euthanasia is killing innocent people. On the contrary, death penalty is killing criminals. However, there is a factor that unites both issues: the killing. It is unethical kill people, regardless whether they are innocent or have committed a crime. Some researchers suggest that both euthanasia and death penalty should be prohibited in the United States of America.
The point is that the theory of consequentialism is relevant in both issues. Some do believe that all the actions will return to a person. If a person does something inappropriate, he or she will be punished. Hence, if a person kills someone or orders to kill someone, he or she will be punished. On the other hand, when speaking about euthanasia or death punishment, people do not think about relatives of those, who are to be killed. Obviously, in most of the cases, relatives of an ill person order or ask the doctor to do a lethal injection. On the other hand, relatives of a criminal do not have such a choice. In my opinion, it is unethical to kill others, or even to order to kill someone. Utilitarianism is the theory that aimed at providing happiness to every individual in the world. The main idea of utilitarianism is that people should be happy and do everything they can to get this feeling. When speaking about euthanasia or death penalty, I should admit that the theory of utilitarianism is one of the best excuses for such actions. The point is that killing a person, who suffers from a disease, is a good action. It makes relatives of the individual happy because they do not see their close one suffering. Besides, it makes doctors happier, because they do not have to worry about the other ill person and his or her treatment. Moreover, the person, who believes in God and the existence of the paradise, is happy when dying, because he or she believes in coming to the paradise.
On the other hand, there is death penalty. From the utilitarianism point of view, the dead prisoner makes the entire society happier. There is no longer any threat of him or her killing or damaging someone. Obviously, relatives and friends of a criminal are upset. However, their sadness cannot compare to what the society has got: freedom from another dangerous criminal.
Another theory that is applicable in this case is the theory of universalism. It states that everyone, who has sinned, will be reconciled to God. From this point of view, criminals are the ones, who are to be killed. The point is that the sooner they are killed the fasted God will reconcile them and they will have the opportunity to thank God for that. On the other hand, there is the issue of euthanasia. In this case, the theory of universalism is not good to apply. Those, who are killed with euthanasia, do not deserve to die, on most of the cases. Hence, I suggest that, although, the cases seem similar, different theories can be applied to them.
Resources:
n.a. (n.d.) People, passion and problem solving. Humanities at Southampton. Southgampton University
