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Is there a morally important difference between killing someone and letting someone die?

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The medical profession functions on the assumption that there is a pertinent moral difference between killing someone and letting someone die. In this essay I will provide differing philosophical perspectives on the matter before offering my own opinion.
There are a number of different terms applied to the concepts of killing someone and letting someone die. Typically, these are: active and passive euthanasia and voluntary and involuntary euthanasia. Active euthanasia, sometimes referred to as ‘positive’ euthanasia, involves a deliberate act, such as lethal injection, that brings about death to a person. On the other hand, passive or ‘negative’ euthanasia is conventionally said to be the omission of an act. For example, when a doctor …show more content…

Yet, both cases would fall under instances of passive euthanasia. The boundaries are blurred further still when voluntary and involuntary euthanasia is taken into account. Active euthanasia can include a voluntary or involuntary aspect.

Themes of honour, marriage and courtly love are prominent in the Franklin’s tale. Moreover, it is these very themes that invoke a sense of preceding ‘Breton Lays’. The various themes are utilised in a conflicting manner and serve to accentuate intrinsic flaws contained within that particular medieval society - of the ‘gentils’ - in which the story is set. For example, an illustration of conflicting private and public spheres are emphasised by the aforementioned themes and notably demonstrated in Dorigen’s plight. She is faced with a dilemma: maintain her vows made in marriage to Arveragus or fulfil a promise, made in pity, to her dogged and unwanted suitor Aurelius. The decision is, to all intents and purposes, made for her - by external forces. Although Dorigen is higher than her husband in the societal hierarchy, she is obliged to conform to public conventions and obey him, despite being of equal stature within the marriage. Add to this the notion that she is part of a society whereby honour or keeping to one’s word is, arguably, the most important value a person can have and it becomes increasingly clear that any decision on the matter is not really hers to make. Consequently, Dorigen is privately persuaded by her

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