1. euthanasia arguments for

2. utilitarianism Utilitarianism: The only thing of intrinsic value is pleasure (happiness) and the only thing of intrinsic disvalue is pain (unhappiness). An act is right iff it maximizes the overall ratio of pleasure to pain.

3. the utilitarian argument 1. Killing Jack would maximize the overall ratio of pleasure to pain. 2. If (1), then killing Jack would be right. 3. [So] Killing Jack would be right.

4. the best interests argument 1. If Jack wants to die (and the relevant parties agree), then killing him would be in everyone’s best interests (i.e., it would maximize the overall ratio of pleasure to pain without violating anyone’s rights). 2. If killing Jack would be in everyone’s best interests, then it would be right. 3. [So] If Jack wants to die (and the relevant parties agree), then killing him would be right.

5. the golden rule argument

7. T he application of all this to the question of euthanasia is fairly obvious…Suppose you were told that you would die in one of two ways, and you were asked to choose between them. First you could die quietly, and without pain, from a fatal injection. Or second, you could choose to die of an affliction so painful that for several days before death you should be reduced to howling like a dog…It is hard to believe that any sane person… would choose to have a rule applied that would force upon him or her the second option. And if we would not want such a rule, which excluded euthanasia, applied to us, then we should not apply such a rule to others. (Rachels, p.49)

8. the golden rule argument The Golden Rule (Version 1): Do unto others what you would have them do unto you. 1. The Golden Rule (V1) is correct. 2. If (1), then we should give others the option of euthanasia. 3. [So] We should give others the option of euthanasia.

9. the golden rule argument The Golden Rule (Version 2): Do unto others what they should do unto you. 1. The Golden Rule (V2) is correct. 2. If (1), then we should give others the option of euthanasia. 3. [So] We should give others the option of euthanasia.