Expert: Justin Choo - 3/13/2011

Question
Hello, I was wondering if you could answer the following question. If not, that's okay.

What are ethics based on? How does an issue like euthanasia, become ethical?

Thankyou very much,
Alicia.

Answer
Hi Alicia,

This doesn't sound like a Buddhist question. It is more of a philosophical one. However, I can answer it as a general question, with a Buddhist slant.

First we have to define "ethics". This is from
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics

1. ( used with a singular or plural verb ) a system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture.
2. the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.
3. moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.
4. ( usually used with a singular verb ) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

Now your first question:
What are ethics based on?
Definations #1, #2 and #4 answer this question.


How does an issue like euthanasia, become ethical?
Since ethics are based on the values and beliefs of specific group, culture and even religion, there may not be a single universal interpretation of any issue that all groups will agree upon.  In the Buddhist context, the subject of euthanasia centres on the Buddhist precept of not-killing.  As far as Buddhists are concerned, killing is an unwholesome act.  

Just yesterday, I was asked about euthanasia.  Below I "copy & paste" for your information:

<<    What is your own personal opinion/beliefs on Euthanasia? Why?
My personal opinion is influenced by the Buddhist teachings.  First we have to consider what constitute killing in the Buddhist context.  When these five conditions are fulfilled, it is killing in the "first degree":

1. The victim must be a living being.
2. The killer must know the victim is a being.
3. The killer must have the volition to kill the victim.
4. The action of killing must be performed by the killer.
5. The victim dies as a result of this act.


As an arm-chair commentator, it is very easy to recommend against putting a life "to sleep." What "god-given" right do we have to decide on whether a life should live or not? If we are the "victims" do we want others to put us "down"?

On the other hand, we may be tempted to consider the "advantages" and "convenience" of taking the "appropriate humane" decision. If we don't have any spiritual value or any humane conscience, then the decision is very easy.

So, where do we go from here? Such is the reality of existence, where sometimes we are not given an easy choice. This in Buddhism is "Dukkha" which means "very difficult to bear". >>

Coming back to your statement, as far as Buddhists are concerned, euthanasia is not ethical.  So for the others, they have their own ethical values, and based on their values, euthanasia may be ethical.

This is my opinion.  Take care.

Justin Choo