Deconstruction of discernment in child euthanasia

Pusterla, Elia R.G. (2021) Deconstruction of discernment in child euthanasia. Philosophia, 50. pp. 671-690.

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Abstract

Belgian law on child euthanasia uses the concept of discernment to bestow the right to die to minors. Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction of oppositional logic grasps the ambiguity of this use of discernment and generally challenges the alleged force of a textual sign meaningfully to differentiate itself from its different and meaningless else. This alleged ability to discern the presence of discernment impinges the truth-value of the distinction between worthy/unworthy lives. The resulting undecidability morally suggests the respect for otherness and promotes the moral value of the suspension of arbitrary judgment (epokhē) and, in so doing, de facto converges towards the praxis of the doctrine of the sanctity of life that embraces the ‘life is always quality’ argument.

Item Type:	Scientific journal article, Newspaper article or Magazine article
Subjects:	Social studies Social studies > Politics
Department/unit:	Dipartimento economia aziendale, sanità e sociale > Centro competenze anziani
Depositing User:	Roberta Torriani
Date Deposited:	07 Sep 2022 04:49
Last Modified:	07 Sep 2022 04:50
URI:	http://repository.supsi.ch/id/eprint/13523

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