Principlism in Biomedical Ethics: Respect for Autonomy, Non-Maleficence, Beneficence, and Justice

16 February 202117 February 2021 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 7 Comments

Author: G. M. Trujillo, Jr. Category: Ethics Wordcount: 999 Suppose that you have an ethical problem in medicine or science. How would you solve it? Some ethicists appeal to an ethical theory, a general explanation of when and why actions are wrong or not.[1] For example, Kantians argue that you should treat all people with … Continue reading Principlism in Biomedical Ethics: Respect for Autonomy, Non-Maleficence, Beneficence, and Justice

Ethical Egoism

2 February 20209 May 2021 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 6 Comments

The ethical theory known as ethical egoism states that we are always morally required to do what’s in our own self-interest: the view is sometimes called an “ethics of selfishness.” The view isn’t that we are selfish—this is psychological egoism—but that we ought to be. This essay explores ethical egoism and the main arguments for and against it.

Euthanasia, or Mercy Killing

Ferdinand Hodler, "Valentine Godé-Darel on Her Sickbed," 1914

5 March 201911 March 2021 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 9 Comments

Author: Nathan Nobis Category: Ethics Word count: 1000 Sadly, there are people in very bad medical conditions who want to die. They are in pain, they are suffering, and they no longer find their quality of life to be at an acceptable level anymore. When people like this are kept alive by machines or other … Continue reading Euthanasia, or Mercy Killing

Applied Ethics

13 February 20189 March 2021 ~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 4 Comments

Author: Chelsea Haramia Category: Ethics Word Count: 855 1. What Applied Ethicists Do The modern-day, direct study of applied ethics arguably began with Judith Jarvis Thomson’s 1971 article “A Defense of Abortion.”1 Thomson argued that it is permissible to have an abortion even if the fetus is a person with a right to life. Given that many … Continue reading Applied Ethics

The Ethics of Abortion

7 March 201619 May 2021 ~ 1000wordphilosophy ~ 14 Comments

Abortion involves the intentional killing of a human being. Killing human beings is often deeply wrong, so is abortion wrong? If so, when? And why?