Death, Dying, and Dignity (IN: The Proceedings of the Twentieth World Congress of Philosophy, Volume 1: Ethics, edited by K Brinkmann)

Explores the meaning of ‘dignity’ in regards to one’s manner of dying. Argues that convential usage generally holds that “death with dignity” ends or prevents life without dignity, by which is meant life marked not by buffoonery, but by illness and disability. Offers popular examples of dignity-depleters, including dementia, incontinence, and being “dependent on machines” – provided the machines are respirators rather than furnaces, refrigerators, and computers.