Overview
question 1) Based on what you have learned about virtue theory, write a paragraph about whether you think it is a useful theory to help one understand what they "ought" to do. Question 2) Consider the following moral dilemma.
Case 6.3 Tracy and Robert Latimer: “It Was Right to Kill My Daughter”
Background:
Robert Latimer admitted to taking Tracy’s life by leaving her in the cab of his truck and closing in the exhaust fumes to let her pass from carbon-monoxide poisoning. “Tracy had suffered from cerebral palsy and had been both physically and mentally disabled since the time of her birth. At the time of her death [12 years old], she weighed no more than 38 pounds. She had never been able to walk, sit up, talk, feed herself, or express her thoughts or wishes. She had suffered a great deal of pain throughout her life and had undergone numerous surgeries to correct orthopaedic and musculoskeletal difficulties,” (Thomas, Waluchow, Gedge, 222). Robert’s reason of committing the act was that to be phrased as “mercy killing.” Robert was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 10 years. After a failed appeal, he appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada and resulted with a new trial on the grounds that the previous sentence was “cruel and unusual punishment.” The new trial resulted with a sentence of one year in prison followed up by one year of house arrest.
(https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/phil116bioethics/2015/03/13/case-6-3-tracy-and-robert-latimer/)
Did Robert Latimer do the right thing?