Homework 131, Woien and Harris

All answers must be in your own words.


1 a. According to Harris, which is more important: autonomy or welfare? Support your answer. (1pt)
b. Which component of morally relevant consent is autonomy most connected to? Briefly explain why. (1pt)

2. Woien discusses cases in which people had an advanced directive asking to be euthanized when they were demented, but changed their minds once they became demented and were no longer fully autonomous.
a. According to Harris, does the advanced directive show consent to euthanasia? Why or why not? (2pts)
b. According to Harris, what sort of rule should doctors follow when making decisions about people who are not autonomous? What do you think Harris would say doctors should do in the cases Woien discusses? (2pts)
c. Does Woien disagree with that rule? Explain and support your answer. (2pts)

3. Woien claims that the satisfaction of informed desires is more important for one's welfare than the satisfaction of uninformed desires.
a. How might someone object to this? (You don't have to disagree with Woien, but think about what someone might say if they did disagree with her) (2pts)