AN INQUIRY INTO THE TERMINATION OF HUMAN LIFE: THE CASE OF EUTHANASIA BY CRISPINOUS S.M. ITEYO B.A. (HONS) UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI. 1994 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University. -W i/'Q 9.<t CRISPINUOS ITEYO DATE This thesis has been submitted for examination with my approval as University Supervisor. */ f e u ■52 9 6 F. OCHIENG'-ODHIAMBO DATE Ill ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My most sincere gratitude goes to the University of Nairobi which offered me a scholarship to pursue M.A. in Philosophy. Without this scholarship this work could not have been possible. I also wish to thank my supervisor Mr. F. Ochieng'-Odhiambo for not only guiding me in writing this work but also patiently reading and re-reading several drafts of this work. Thanks go to Mrs. Alice Bakhoya for sacrificing her time to type this work. I can't forget to thank the following friends for the company and encouragement they gave me in the course of writing this work: S. Ngaira, M. Alugongo, W. Peru, F. Owakah, H. Misigo and S. Musiega. IV DEDICATION Dedicated to those that life has fretted and harassed and yet find living tolerable hence they cruise on. */ ABSTRACT Although termination of human life (including euthanasia) is a source of major debates in ethics, a critical examination of the views advanced as regards life in these debates is lacking. A keen scrutiny, for example, at the euthanasia debate reveals that there is the principle of preserving life and that human life is special, uniqufe, precious and/or sacred. r Questions that need a thorough consideration emerge. Is the principle of preserving life an overriding one as far as terminating human life is concerned? And, is human life special, unique or sacred? If yes, are these qualities so strong as to impede all forms of terminating life, euthanasia included? These questions are addressed by critically examining and evaluating the views advanced in the debate on euthanasia, and critically examining the concept human life and its termination in the religious worlqi, (Christianity), traditional world (Idakho) and contemporary world, as represented by the scientific and philosophic views. The argument is that terminating human life can be justifiable and defensible. It is found that human life is indeed special compared to those of animals and plants hence the principle of preserving it. It is however argued that this principle and the high value attached to human life are both superseded by other principles and considerations that favour or justify terminating human life, for example state security, retribution, prestige and VI utilitarian considerations. Hence, just as some principles are used to justify other forms of terminating human life, so can the same be done on euthanasia. And in this work it is found that euthanasia is justifiable on the grounds of utilitarianism. It would therefore be illogical to argue that euthanasia is bad because it involves terminating a life that is special and unique, and that it violates the principle of preserving life. VII CHAPTER SUMMARY Chapter one gives the general introduction, that is, problem at hand, justification, methodology, theoretical framework and hypothesis. Euthanasia is defined and described. In the process of defining and describing, clarifications are made as to whether euthanasia is murder and/or suicide. This chapter offers a foundation for comprehending the debate on euthanasia as presented in chapter two. Chapter two centers mainly on the debate on euthanasia. The two schools of thought as regards euthanasia, that is, pro- and anti-euthanasia (schools) are presented. In this chapter, various views advanced by scholars as far as the termination of human life is concerned, are analysed. The first part of the chapter gives a historical perspective of killing in general and euthanasia in particular. This historical perspective centres mainly on early Greek Philosophers, the genesis of western thought. Also examined are the views of the philosophers of the moral-theological standpoint, and also some 7 philosophers of the enlightenment era. The theme in the third chapter is life. In this chapter, an attempt is sought to establish whether human life has special attributes than that of other living things, for it to produce a lot of debates when it is terminated. Reference is made on religious and scientific perspectives of life. Some theories of the origin of life and man are examined. And lastly, the world pictures of man are examined with the view of establishing why man is considered special. In the fourth chapter, the discussion on life and its termination is VIII extended to the traditional scene. The Idakho traditional practices and beliefs as regards terminating human life are examined. Singled out for special treatment are the beliefs and practices that are connected to terminating someone's life and also terminating one's own life. The question is whether there are principles in this community that supersede the principle of preserving life and whether euthanasia can be justified on the basis of these principles. In the fifth chapter, an attempt is made to show how euthanasia can be ethically justified. It is shown how the consequentialist ethic, and in particular utilitarianism can rightfully justify the termination of life and in particular euthanasia. What is also addressed to in this chapter are the issues and questions that arise from the justification of euthanasia. These issues and questions are analysed. Chapter six is the conclusion of the whole work. In this chapter, the findings of this work are stated and an attempt is made to show that the aims of this work were achieved. V IX TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENT .................................................................................. iii DEDICATION ................................................................................................ iv ABSTRACT .................................................................................................. v CHAPTER SUMMARY .................................................................................. vii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 General Introduction ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Ethnographical Background ............................................................ 7 1.2 Theoretical Framework ................................................................... 8 1.3 Hypothesis ...................................................................................... 10 1.4 Methodology .................................................................................. 10 1.5 What is Euthanasia ........................................................................ 11 1.6 Euthanasia and Murder ................................................................. 16 1.7 Euthanasia and Suicide ................................................................. 18 Notes .............................................................................................. 22 CHAPTER TWO THE EUTHANASIA DEBATE 2.0 Preamble ......................................................................................... 23 2.1 Early Greek philosophers on killing .............................................. 23 2.2 Augustine, Aquinas, Hume and Kant ............................................ 34 2.2.1 St. Augustine........................................................................ 35 2.2.2 Thomas Aquinas ................................................................. 36 2.2.3 David Hume .......................................................................... 39 2.2.4 Immanuel Kant ...................................................................... 42 2.3 The Current Debate on Euthanasia .............................................. 45 2.3.1 Pro-euthanasia Scholars ..................................................... 46 2.3.2 Anti-euthanasia Scholars ........................................... 54 Notes .............................................................................^.............. 62 CHAPTER THREE HUMAN LIFE; RELIGIOUS AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES 3.0 Preamble ......................................................................................... 64 3.1 The Origin of Life .......................................................................... 67 3.2 World Pictures of Man ................................................................... 79 3.2.1 The Scientific World Picture................................................ 81 3.2.2 The Religious World Picture ................................................ 90 3.3 Observations ...................................................... 95 Notes .................................................................! .......................... 104 x CHAPTER FOUR IDAKHO ETHOS IN RELATION TO KILLING AND EUTHANASIA 4.0 Preamble ...................................................................................... 106 4.1 Choosing to Die Among the Idakho ............................................ 107 4.2 Actively Taking Away Someone's Life Among the Idakho 111 4.2.1 Killing a Clansm an............................................................... 112 4.2.2 Burial of Person Killed by a Clansman ............................. 113 4.2.3 Killing