The Concept of Euthanasia in Eugenios Voulgaris

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Published: Mar 25, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22775
Keywords:
Eugenios Voulgaris; Euthanasia (Good Death); Modern Greek Enlightenment; Medical Ethics; Christian Theology; Death and Dying; Bioethics; Spiritual Preparation
Georgios Panteleimon Kranidiotis
Abstract

This article examines the philosophical and theological treatise Dissertation on Euthanasia (Διατριβὴ περὶ Εὐθανασίας) by Eugenios Voulgaris (1716–1806), a leading figure of the Modern Greek Enlightenment. Written towards the end of his life, Voulgaris's work explores the transition from life to death, defining "euthanasia" not in the modern clinical or legal sense of assisted dying, but as the "good death"—a peaceful, conscious, and spiritually prepared departure. The author analyzes how Voulgaris synthesizes Christian Orthodox tradition with classical philosophical thought and the emerging experimental sciences of his time. The study highlights Voulgaris’s focus on the psychological and moral preparation of the dying person, the role of medical care in alleviating suffering without violating divine will, and the importance of maintaining human dignity in the face of mortality.

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