The beginning and end of life : moral controversy

Abstract

When we speak about quality of life, we refer often to the ends of life. Is life ever unbearable that it should not begin or end by human intervention. This, in the end, is what this book is about. Rational arguments often follow why we should not terminate life in its beginning or its end, notwithstanding the amount of pain, suffering or deformity we see. Conversely counter rational arguments argue the opposite. We should indeed find it possible to conceive terminating life in order to terminate misery. Respect for life is often a value which is difficult to conceive. Do we respect life by keeping a dying person alive, or conversely, do we forfeit this respect when we allow a person to continue living in misery? And when can the sick person ask of others that they take his or her life into their hands? Courts have found such decisions controversial and difficult. This book is not in fact about law, but about morality. It is not a book which tends to defend conservative or fundamental religious (or otherwise) positions.