进化论与20世纪的安乐死运动

Theory of Evolution and the Euthanasia Movement in the 20th Century

19世纪末到20世纪初,进化论取代传统医德观念成为安乐死运动新的理论基础,这既是进化论最重大的社会影响之一,也是安乐死运动发展历史上的一个意蕴深远的转折。“适者生存”的理论将安乐死运动同优生学结合在一起,改变了安乐死的含义和目的,牢固确立了个体生命价值依赖于个体能力,以及社会整体发展的目标绝对地高于个体权益的观念,最终导致了纳粹安乐死和优生学。基于对历史的反思,二战后的安乐死运动切断了与进化思想的关联,重新确立了尊重人类内在价值的理念,并通过对“死亡的权利”的论述推动了现代人权理论和实践的发展。

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century,the theory of evolution replaced traditional medical ethics,becoming the new basis for euthanasia movement.This is one of the most important social influences of evolution,and a turning point of euthanasia movement with profound implication.“Survival of the fittest”combined euthanasia with eugenics.This combination changed the meaning and purpose of euthanasia.It also established such ideas as“the value of individuals can be measured by his capacities”and“development of society is more important than the interest of individuals”which finally lead to Nazi euthanasia and eugenics.Based on a reflection on the history,the euthanasia movement cut off its connection with Darwinism,and showed respect to the inner value of the individuals.It promoted the development of the regime of modern human rights by claiming for the rights to die.