Advancements in modern medicine have lead to the nature of death being redefined. It raises the question of what we value life for; it's biological attributes or its qualities that enable us to enjoy it? The traditional Sanctity of Life principle (SofLP) is unable to adequately answer any such questions without sounding arbitrary. By defining the doctrine, then applying it to the situation of brain dead patients, I intend to show that when the SofLP is held up against moral questions concerning modern medicine, it falls short of ever giving a rational and satisfying answer. I will then move on to prove that, by order of elimination, it is the pleasurable qualities of life that we value. I will be using arguments made by Peter Suber and Peter Singer in order to back up my contention.
The SofLP subscribes to the view that taking human life is intrinsically wrong because life has intrinsic value.
Destroy All Human Life
English: The value of human life
English: Peter Singer speaking at a Veritas Forum ...This means that it is always directly wrong to kill another human being, although defenders of the SofLP can make exception such as in self-defense or when at war. They believe that everybody has a right to life. It also maintains that the value of life comes before all other values and that all lives are of equal value. It does not take quality of life into consideration either, which means that an advocate of the SofLP cannot distinguish between an ancephalic baby and a healthy adult etc. As stated by Suber (1996), proponents of the doctrine find the sanctity of life at the very basis of life: vital signs, which are all there is to life when the quality of life has been overlooked. However, this isn't to say that they don't value "higher developments of life."
My first point to make about the failings...