Human protection principle (anthroprostasia) and current value conflicts

Abstract

The principle of anthropostasy (human protection) is developed. It prohibits violation of universally accepted values (basic rights and freedoms of the individual) and prescribes to take care of the conditions for a full life (free, decent and meaningful) for everyone. Anthropostasy has a special place among the most significant types of ethical theories and approaches. The principle of anthropastasy has been tested on several actual moral dilemmas: permission/prohibition of voluntary active euthanasia, permission/prohibition of abortion, permission/prohibition of soft drugs sale.  Each of these dilemmas is based on a value conflict since actions that pursue some values are detrimental to some others. In some cases, a general decision was made and substantiated; in other cases a boundary was drawn, in the third type of cases local decisions based on approbation, experience, democratic procedures were found acceptable, finally, for the most difficult cases (when any decision leads to someone’s death), it is shown that there can be no general rule, and any choice shall entail the full-fledged responsibility for its agent.