Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
That's one awfully short, neat sentence to use to gloss over a broad and extremely complex set of issues...
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Yes it is. And there's a reason for it. It is indeed a complex set of issues, and where you stand on it is going to depend on your moral outlook. The reality is that we could argue over this till the cows come home, and not reach an agreement. What's more neither of us would be wrong, as you can approach the issue from all sorts of philosophical angles, neither of which could be proven to be 'correct'.
That's sort of summed up in you arguing that we can put down animals and not humans as animals are of a lesser status, and me arguing that the elevated status of humans gives them more rights to decide on their own fate. Neither of them is right or wrong. It's highly subjective.
I'm not, for want of a better word, held back by a religious notion of the sanctity of life. From my perspective my life is mine, and it's for me to decide what to do with it, even if that means ending it. And if I were to find myself in a situation where I am not capable or willing to do it myself, I'd want someone else to be able to assist me (with certain safeguards).