Should people have the right to end their own lives?
Debate between a user and Christopher Hitchens on DebateAI.org
Christopher Hitchens
Daily Debate #596: "Should people have the right to end their own lives?". You are arguing FOR the motion. Your opponent: Christopher Hitchens.
User
No,they shouldn't
Christopher Hitchens
You're just asserting the opposite without reasoning. Why shouldn't they? Is it because you think the state owns their body, or because you're afraid they'll choose wrong? Which is it, because those lead to completely different arguments.
User
A right is something that make your life dignified,ending your life is the opposive of that
Christopher Hitchens
You've collapsed two separate things. A right protects your autonomy to make choices about your own life, not to guarantee a dignified outcome. Why does autonomy stop mattering the moment someone's in pain?
User
I give up
Christopher Hitchens
You're not giving up the argument, you're giving up on defending it. That's not a debate loss, that's a concession. So which is it: does autonomy matter or doesn't it?