Is the principle of double effect morally acceptable. Consequentialism, the actionomission distinction, and the. Doctrine of double effect the doctrine or principle of double effect is often invoked to explain the permissibility of an action that causes a serious harm, such as the death of a human being, as a side effect of promoting some good end. One of the reasons why most of us feel puzzled about the problem of abortion is that we want, and do not want, to. There are several criteria that an act must meet in order for it to be justified by this principle. The doctrine of the double effect is an algorithm for solving all moral disputes in which an. Recently, the rule of double effect, which has a long history in ethics, especially medical ethics, has come under serious criticism in the medical literature. The doctrine of double effect states that it can be permissible to cause harm if the harm is a side effect of an action whose main intent was meant to bring about good. N her manuscript analyzing the relationship between the principle of double effect and ef fective pain management, fohr critically ex plores the assumption that opioids, when used. Principle of double effect flashcards and study sets quizlet. Available formats pdf please select a format to send. The hermeneutic function of the principle of double effect peter knauer. Pdf rounding the horn with the principle of double effect. That is the business of the principle of double effect.
Principle of double effect definition of principle of. The author intends to show that it is illogical to use this doctrine to. The principle of double effect is widely used to permit the administration of narcotics and sedatives with the intent to palliate dying patients, even though the administration of these drugs may. Choose from 500 different sets of principle of double effect flashcards on quizlet.
The principle allows the action as morally permissible in those circumstances in which the harmful effect is not intended, but is a sideeffect of the action. Full text full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. According to the principle of double effect, sometimes it is permissible to cause a harm as a side effect or double effect of bringing about a. This doctrine says that if doing something morally good has a morally bad sideeffect its ethically ok to do it providing the bad sideeffect wasnt intended. Thomas aquinas is credited with introducing the principle of double effect in his discussion of the permissibility of selfdefense in the summa theologica iiii, qu. This doctrine says that if doing something morally good has a morally bad sideeffect, its ethically ok to do it providing the bad sideeffect wasnt intended. The doctrine of double effect as an objective principle howard nye university of michigan abstract. The difficulties often arise from a rejection of the idea that acts. Weston school of theology with considerabl frequence y moral dilemmas have prompted eth icists to turn to the principle of double effect. End must be morally acceptable cause must be good or at least indifferent means to end the good effect must be immediate foreseen bad is expected as a result of pursuing the good effect must not be intended but foreseen must be grave reason good must be important enough to justify bad effect is the pde meant. The first known example of doubleeffect reasoning is thomas. In this article i analyze that assumption, asking the question. Haig khatchadourian the socalled doctrine or principle of double effect hereafter called the principle plays a central role in various areas of normative ethics, e.
Its most prominent applications are in medical ethics, where it figures prominently in attempts to distinguish among permissible and impermissible procedures in a range of obstetrical cases. Included in foot, 19772002 virtues and vices and other essays in moral philosophy. The doctrine of double effect and the trolley problem by ezio. The principle of double effect the ethical rationale for the use of palliative sedation derives from the principles of double effect, informed consent, and autonomy, although double effect is by no means necessary to endorse appropriate and proportionate sedation to alleviate refractory suffering. The principle of double effect and our responsibility regarding the environment suppose that you know that an action has two consequences, or effects, one good and one bad.
There have been some recent attempts to modify it, 1 1. Feb, 2017 phil 114 unit 6, lecture 2 the doctrine of double effect duration. Principle of double effect the principle of double effect is a rule of conduct frequently used in moral theology to determine when a person may lawfully perform an action from which two effects will follow, one bad, and the other good. Separation of conjoined twins and the principle of double effect. An action that is good in itself that has two effects an intended and otherwise not reasonably attainable good effect, and an unintended yet foreseen evil effect is licit, provided there is a due. The principle of double effect itself has had a long history of development and over this period its conditions have been fairly well standardized.
The principle of double effect is therefore an important guide for ethical decisionmaking in medicine. Professor alissa thorell discusses the principle of double effect and how it sometimes applies in difficult moral situations. Learn principle of double effect with free interactive flashcards. The doctrine of double effect and the ethics of dual use. Undertreatment of pain is the more serious ethical dilemma. The principle of double effect also known as the rule of double effect. The principle or doctrine of double effect can be used as a justification of a harmful effect if the harmful effect is seen as an indirect or merely foreseen effect, not the direct and intended effect of the action. Theologians commonly teach that four conditions must be. Thomas aquinas first used the term double effect to refer to the duality of results of a single human action in discussing killing in selfdefense. The doctrine of double effect dde is an influential nonconsequentialist principle positing a role for intention in affecting the moral permissibility of some. Principle of double effect the following text, in its entirety, is from the archdiocese of saint paul and minneapolis website on bioethics. In the law of bioethics, intention has often been discussed in the context of the principle of double effect. Double effect the principle that says it is morally allowable to perform an act that has at least two effects, one good and one bad.
The problem of abortion and the doctrine of the double effect philippa foot 1967. Source for information on double effect, principle of. Doctrine of double effect stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The problem of abortion and the doctrine of the double effect phillipa foot before reading the article by foot, this short discussion of the doctrine of the double effect is useful. Ewtn catholic voters guide the principle of double effect. Clarifying double effect george weigel first things. The double effect doctrine forbids the achievement of good ends by wrong means but it permits actions with a double effect, both good and bad, under certain conditions. It is, in reality, the fundamental principle of all morality. This article examines the doctrine of double effect through case examples and presents.
The doctrine of double effect states roughly that there are stronger moral reasons against inflicting harm as a means to an end than there are against causing harm as a byproduct. Shaw strongly criticizes the doctrine of double effect. Leslie allan, the principle of double effect philpapers. The principle of double effect is used to determine when an action which has two effects, one good and one evil, may still be chosen without sin. The hermeneutic function of the principle of double effect. These six instances demonstrate a fairly strong assumption that the principle of double effect is a justi fying principle. The principle of double effect and its application in clinical context the pde does not constitute another fundamental positi on within the euthanasia debate, but is to be regarded as a rule that. The hermeneutic function of the principle of double effect peter knauer the principle of double effect leads a marginal existence in the handbooks of moral theology and appears useful only in making possible a species of. Double effect, principle of the principle of double effect is a rule of conduct frequently used in moral theology to determine when a person may lawfully perform an action from which two effects will follow, one bad and the other good.
Pdf analgesia, virtue, and the principle of double effect. Yet many people do not know or fully understand exactly what it is. Thomas aquinas and how it can be applied to the trolley problem and the fat. The principle of double effect was formulated by catholic ethicists to overcome such objections. The principle of double effect is used to rationalize the harmful effects of an otherwise good intervention. The principle of double effect and proportionate reason. Sep 20, 2011 here i analyze the relationship between the doctrine of double effect and the trolley problem, arguing that the trolley problem provides three distinct arguments in favor of the doctrine of double effect. Objections to the principle of double effect usually concern its first and second conditions that the act not be evil in itself, and that the good effect and not the evil effect be intended. It is consequential in thinking, because it says that the goal justifies the means. Thomas did not use the term double effect or refer to the principle, he used the concept in justifying killing in selfdefense 1. Immediately download the principle of double effect summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching principle of double effect. The principle of double effect and our responsibility. Evaporation 803 heat transferred during this period is the product of the heat transferred per cycle and the number of cycles in the period or.
Thomas aquinas, who used it to show that killing in selfdefense is justified summa theologiae iii q64 art. In other words, the harm is foreseen we expect it to happen, or we understand that there is a strong likelihood that. Pdf the principle of doubleeffect in a clinical context. The doctrine of double effect the dde is concerned with the application of normative moral theory to practical moral problems. The problem of abortion and the doctrine of the double effect. The principle of double effect in the churchs moral tradition teaches that one may perform a good action even if it is foreseen that a bad effect will arise only if four conditions are met. The principle of double effect affects catholic and arguably protestant moral teaching on subjects from war to abortion, meaning its highly relevant to our debates over the use of drone strikes and the tragic death of savita halappanavar. In a nutshell, the principle is that sometimes it is permissible to bring about as a merely foreseen side effect a harmful event that it would be. When health care professionals cannot achieve a particular desired good result without bringing about some bad effects also they often rely on doubleeffect reasoning to justify their decisions. Jun 01, 2018 the principle of double effect, or pde, has its origins with st. Links to pubmed are also available for selected references.
This principle states that it is possible to make a decision that has both good and bad effects. This article is brought to you for free and open access by the faculty publications at loyola ecommons. The doctrine of double effect and the ethics of dual. The principle of double effect is a rule of conduct frequently used in moral theology to determine when a person may lawfully perform an action from which two effects will follow, one bad and the other good. Theological studies 54 1993 the function of the principle of double effect james f. Unfortunately, in ethical articles discussing endoflife issues, any discussion of relieving pain is invariably followed, almost in the same breath, by a discussion of the double effect. In his article two challenges to the double effect doctrine.
The principle of doubleeffect in a clinical context. Killing ones assailant is justified, he argues, provided one does not intend to kill him. More often, however, they provide that a determination of whether an actor may pursue a good effect although knowing it will or may unintentionally cause an harmful effect requires a more complex analysis a double effect analysis. The principle of double effect leads a marginal existence in the handbooks of moral theology and appears useful only in making possible a species of hairsplitting. One of the reasons why most of us feel puzzled about.
The discussion of this issue among catholic theologians has frequently revolved around the axis of the principle of double effect, a moral rule which is traditionally employed in the moral assessment of acts such as scandal, cooperation in the sin of another, the killing of an innocent person, the use of artificial contraceptive devices. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Npr s elizabeth arnold moderates a discussion between dr. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise cambridge core to connect with your account. Theologians commonly teach that four conditions must be verified in order. It is often used in healthcare to justify actions done in good faith. The doctrine or principle of double effect is often invoked to explain the permissibility of an action that causes a serious harm, such as the death of a human being, as a side effect of promoting some good end. As a principle it is important not so much in purely theoretical matters as in the application of theory to practical cases. Principle of double effect 2 the principle of double effect is frequently cited in cases of pregnancy and abortion. The history of the principle of double effect dates at least as far back as the work of st.
The principle of double effect should assure us that, while a negative effect may be foreseen, if the positive effect is the intention, ethically pursuing the action is not the same as accepting or permitting the negative effect cavanaugh, 1996, p. In rare circumstances, ethics and the law require that a person refrain from acting altogether. Jun 11, 2017 a brief explanation of the four criteria of the famous catholic doctrine of double effect originally created by st. Thomas aquinas and is one of the best strategies in solving complex morality issues.
The use and abuse of double effect anna sutherland. The doctrine of double effect as an objective principle. Principle of double effect an action that is good in itself that has two effectsan intended and otherwise not reasonably attainable good effect, and an unintended yet foreseen evil effect is licit, provided there is a due proportion between the intended good and the permitted evil. The principle of double effect, which allows people to be treated as collateral damages or a means only, has been criticized mainly as a violation of this moral concern a categorical imperative b principle of utility c duty of retribution d prima facie duty of fidelity. The good effect does not result from the evil effect. The principle of double effect permits the loss of the unborn as an indirect result of the direct act of saving the mothers life. Since the doctrine, or principle of double effect as it is sometimes called, is specifically intended as a guide to decisionmaking in ethically difficult cases where an. Critique of the double effect monday, december 11th all things considered. The doctrine of double effect is an ethical principle dating back to the th century that explains how the bad consequences of an action can be considered ethically justified if the original intent was for good intention.
Principle of double effect and endoflife pain management. Singling out the double effect sexual health advice and. The principle of double effect has played a significant role in the discussion of many difficult normative questions. The principle of double effect has a long history and is a fascinating topic of discussion. Mary of the lake,mundelein the principle of the double effect is one of the most practical in the study of moral theology. This principle aims to provide specific guidelines for determining when it is morally permissible to perform an action in pursuit of a good end in full knowledge. The principle of double effect avoids these two defective extremes.
Doctrine of double effect stanford encyclopedia of. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 499k, or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Many medical interventions have both negative and positive effects. A doctor who believes abortion is always morally wrong may nevertheless remove the uterus or fallopian tubes of a pregnant woman, knowing the. In one of a series of articles on philosophical medical ethics, gillon examines the roman catholic doctrine of double effect as it applies to discussions of the moral difference between acts and omissions in patient care.
In ethical reasoning, the principle of double effect is sometimes invoked when an action has two effects hence double effect. Principle of double effect required to be met in order to bring about two effects. Principle of double effect notes principle of double. The act itself must be morally good or at least indifferent. Timothy quill, professor of medicine and psychiatry at the. Most leaders dont even know the game theyre in simon sinek at live2lead 2016 duration. Abstract the doctrine of double effect dde is an influential non. If the target is a legitimate one, and if the numbers of untargeted noncombatants harmed are marginal, then the collateral damage is justified, but only consequentially. The audience finds british captain jack lucky jack aubrey and the. The doctrine of double effect \mathcaldde is a longstudied ethical principle that governs when actions that have. In this essay, leslie allan addresses four of the most prominent problems faced by an absolutist ethic and evaluates the extent to which the principle of double effect is successful in. The double effect effect volume 20 issue 1 charles foster, jonathan herring, karen melham, tony hope. The doctrine of the double effect is an algorithm for solving all moral disputes in which an act will have two effects, one good and the other bad. An explanation of the ethical doctrine of double effect, which says bad results can be morally ok if they are only side effects of a good action.
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