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A Humanist Theology of Choice
Choice is one of the cornerstones of liberalism. In 1859 the British philosopher John Stuart Mill (1806–73) published his book On Liberty (co-written with his wife, the philosopher Harriet Taylor Mill [1807–1858]).
In On Liberty, Mrs. and Mr. Mill differentiate between “liberty” (defined as maximized personal freedom) and authority (defined as maximized social safety).
Freedom. Safety. Where is the balance between those two opposing poles?
We can disagree with the premise that these are the two poles, but let’s consider those two for now and see what we see: freedom on the one hand, safety on the other.
As a for-instance, let’s consider a bone of contention in the US culture wars, medical aid in dying (MAID).
Question: What is the “freedom” when we consider medical aid in dying?
Answer: The freedom to choose relief from suffering.
Question: What is the “safety” imposed by government control in the case of medical aid in dying? A
Answer: As I see it, there are two:
One, it is possible for the living to abuse medical aid in dying, thus actually depriving the dying person of choice.
This scenario is dealt with very specifically in MAID legislation.
