Euthanasia and the moral meaning of suffering Johnson, Elizabeth A.
ISBN: 0599267070
Summary:
This dissertation explores the relationship between euthanasia and
the meaning of suffering. It argues that the question of euthanasia
is most centrally a question about the meaning and significance of
suffering and suggests that an adequate perspective on euthanasia in
Catholic theology must be drawn from a theological understanding of
suffering and human freedom. It further suggests that a
freedom-centered approach to suffering and euthanasia can be an
instructive and valuable point of dialogue between theology and
secular bioethics. Theological resources for the dissertation include
Bernard Häring's approach to medical ethics and freedom, and the
deeper appreciation of suffering and freedom found in Karl Rahner's
theological anthropology and christology.
Chapter 1 presents an analysis of various arguments for and against
euthanasia, showing how each argument embodies a particular
anthropology. The chapter concludes that many arguments lack a much
needed sense of the meaning of suffering in human life.
Chapter 2 turns to Bernard Häring's argument that a convincing
argument against euthanasia can only be made in the perspective of
freedom. This insight, a critical point of departure, establishes
freedom as a essential point of reference for medical ethics.
Chapters 3 shows how a theology of freedom, drawn from the
theological anthropology of Karl Rahner, enables the construction of
an adequate theological perspective on the meaning of suffering.
Rahner's theological understanding of freedom is examined in three
movements: the relationship between suffering, finitude, and freedom;
the moral challenge of illness for freedom; freedom and the
incomprehensibility of suffering understood as part of God's own
incomprehensibility.
Chapter 4 draws a connection between freedom in Rahner's theological
anthropology, his christological understanding of the cross, and the
christologicalinterpretation of suffering and death in Catholic
theology. The chapter employs the three movements developed in
chapter 3 to establish the suffering and death of Jesus as a
paradigmatic example of human freedom engaging suffering.
Chapter 5 applies the above theological insights to the arguments
examined in chapter 1, demonstrating how opposition to euthanasia in
Catholic theology is strengthened by an articulate approach to
suffering and freedom. The chapter also comments on how a freedom
centered approach to euthanasia can be of assistance to the wider
bioethical community.
Notes:
Director: Elizabeth A. Johnson.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Fordham University, 1999.
Electronic reproduction.Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Information and
Learning Company,2004.System requirements: Adobe Acrobat
Reader.Available via World Wide Web.Digital version of: Euthanasia
and the moral meaning of suffering.
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