Explain What Rachels Means When He Says, "If the Life

question 279

Essay

Explain what Rachels means when he says, "If the life of such an infant is worth preserving, what does it matter if it needs a simple operation? Or, if one thinks it better that such a baby should not live on, what difference does it make that it happens to have an unobstructed intestinal tract? In either case, the matter of life and death is being decided on irrelevant grounds."

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Definitions:

B. F. Skinner

An American psychologist known for his work in behaviorism and the development of the operant conditioning theory.

Reinforcement Unit

A measure or instance of reinforcement, which can be positive or negative, used to increase the likelihood of a desired response or behavior.

Primary Reinforcer

A stimulus that is naturally rewarding and satisfies a basic biological need, such as food, water, or sleep.

Food

Any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink to maintain life and growth.