We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
A DEFENSE OF ST. THOMAS AND THE PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT.
- Authors
Montaldi, Daniel F.
- Abstract
Thomas has been criticized by Alan Donagan (and others) for his use of the principle of double effect (PDE) in justifying defensive homicide. Donagan claims that Thomas uses the PDE in conjunction with a basic moral principle that prohibits us from harming human life. He sees Thomas as using the PDE to reconcile this principle with the traditional Christian doctrine of justifiable homicide in self-defense. Defenders are prohibited from killing intentionally by the basic principle, but the PDE permits them to kill unintentionally. However, according to Donagan, human life is not, as such, absolutely inviolable. When the inviolability of human life is rejected, the PDE becomes irrelevant to the justification of killing.
- Subjects
DOUBLE effect (Ethics); ETHICS; JUSTIFIABLE homicide; SELF-defense (Law)
- Publication
Journal of Religious Ethics, 1986, Vol 14, Issue 2, p296
- ISSN
0384-9694
- Publication type
Article