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Full Idea
There is nothing intrinsically good in a person being alive, and the idea of a 'right to life' should be rejected.
Gist of Idea
Being alive is not intrinsically good, and there is no 'right to life'
Source
Jonathan Glover (Causing Death and Saving Lives [1977], §11.1)
Book Ref
Glover,Jonathan: 'Causing Death and Saving Lives' [Penguin 1982], p.138
A Reaction
If pleasure or benefit can be intrinsically good, I don't see why life can't be. The notion of a 'natural' or 'self-evident' right does look dubious to me. Rights are earned and given. Robinson Crusoe has no rights.
4668 | You can't have a right to something you can't desire, so a foetus has no 'right' to life [Glover] |
4670 | Being alive is not intrinsically good, and there is no 'right to life' [Glover] |
20879 | Too many options may open us to unwanted pressures, like being paid very little [LaFollette] |
20880 | Should people be forced to make choices? [LaFollette] |