ON THE ASSUMED MORAL SUPERIORITY OF PASSIVE OVER ACTIVE EUTHANASIA

Abstract

Since the inception of the euthanasia debate, the differentiation between active and passive euthanasia – distinguishing between “letting die” and “actively killing” – has emerged as a central point of contention. In this paper, we will contend that: a) the boundary between active and passive euthanasia is inherently nebulous, b) there exists no morally substantive disparity between active and passive euthanasia, and c) if such a disparity could be admitted, it would probably favor active euthanasia over passive. We will seek support for this final claim of ours in the three principal traditions of normative ethics, namely deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics.