A History of Ideas Concerning Suicide, Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
47 Pages Posted: 12 Nov 2007 Last revised: 28 Jun 2010
Date Written: 2005
Abstract
The article examines from an historical perspective some of the key ideas used in contemporary bioethics debates both for and against the practices of assisted suicide and euthanasia. Key thinkers examined -- spanning the Ancient, Medieval and Modern periods -- include Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Hume, Kant, and Mill. The article concludes with a synthesizing summary of key ideas that oppose or defend assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Keywords: Suicide, Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, Killing and Letting Die
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Paterson, Craig, A History of Ideas Concerning Suicide, Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia (2005). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1029229 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1029229
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