The Third Colloquium of the IACB was held from July 1 to 5, 2007, at St.
Mary’s University Colle... more The Third Colloquium of the IACB was held from July 1 to 5, 2007, at St. Mary’s University College, Twickenham, London, U.K., to explore the theme “Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine: How Far Should We Go?” Participants in the colloquium discussed the goals of the emerging field of regenerative medicine and reflected on the means by which cell-based interventions in regenerative medicine are being investigated
In our paper we defended the idea that public reason is essentially truth-directed political inqu... more In our paper we defended the idea that public reason is essentially truth-directed political inquiry and decision making, and that this is the conception of public reason with which the natural law tradition works. We shall engage the other chapters in this collection by comparing this conception of public reason to their alternative proposals. First, we shall briefly survey the chapters on the general concept of public reason and its applicability to bioethics. Then we shall consider the chapters that articulate and defend alternative conceptions of it. The alternative conceptions which this volume considers are the Rawlsian, the principal representative of political liberalism’s approach to the issue, and the Confucian. In considering the former, we will focus mainly on the chapter dedicated explicitly to defending Rawls’ theory of public reason as the proper framework for bioethical policies. However, we shall also look at the relevant points of the chapters that endorse either a Rawlsian conception of public reason or that of its philosophical forebear, Kant. It is not within the plan of the volume for the authors of this last set of chapters to write replies. For this reason, our remarks on them are not meant as critiques but merely aim to clarify the points of agreement and disagreement that exist between the natural law conception of public reason and that of political liberalism.
Michael Cheng-tek Tai, The Way of Asian Bioethics, Princeton International Printing Co, Taipei, T... more Michael Cheng-tek Tai, The Way of Asian Bioethics, Princeton International Printing Co, Taipei, Taiwan, 2008.
In this age of globalization, bioethical issues are shared across different cultural and national borders. The increased mobility of the peoples often poses difficult challenges to health care workers. It is not uncommon nowadays that caregivers and patients come from very diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, making communication and comprehension arduous. This book is a special contribution on the way Asians
view bioethical issues and will provide an enormous help to healthcare providers when treating patients coming from these regions.
This article looks at the question of sin and disease in bioethics with a spiritual-theological a... more This article looks at the question of sin and disease in bioethics with a spiritual-theological analysis from the book of Job. The biblical figure Job is an innocent and just man who suffered horrendously. His dialogues with others—his wife, his friends, and God—can give many valuable insights for patients who suffer and for those who interact with them. Family, friends, physicians, nurses, chaplains, and pastoral workers can learn from Job how to communicate properly with sufferers. The main question for Job was how to maintain the tension between God’s justice and God’s mercy and not yield to the temptation of cursing God but to speak well of Him in moments of difficulties.
Since the times of the Enlightenment, traditional control of religion in vital spheres of the soc... more Since the times of the Enlightenment, traditional control of religion in vital spheres of the social order began to crumble under the secular challenge of politics, culture, science, economy, judiciary, philosophy, and education. Ethics and theology were probably the last strongholds until they eventually succumbed as well under the influence of the now secularized academia. This happened at a time when society was restless with exciting medical discoveries which brought with them the age-old questions of just distribution, legitimate use of technology and justified manipulation of nature. The debate on contraception was among the test cases of novel technology with ethical substance, and dissent against church teaching caused an exodus of scholar to join the burgeoning field of bioethics. Even though theologians made important seminal contributions in the early days of bioethics, it was philosophy that bioethics eventually fell back on because of the troubles facing theology. Principlism soon became the dominant philosophical model to be applied in policymaking and at the bedside. However, the consensus achieved by this ethic looked contrived and open to manipulation of the potent. As discontents brewed, a plethora of competing models surged on the horizon, many of them sought to relocate ethics in the context of the situation or the character of the moral agent. Unwittingly, this puts secular bioethics on the path toward ethical relativism, liberalism and nihilism. Bioethics has become a secular creature which not only rejects religion but now questions the very possibility of reason itself. Different speculations sought to provide the causes of the secularization of bioethics. At root is an uncertainty about the place of religion in democracy, and of situating religious ethics in public ethics. Secular bioethics’ inadequacy also calls for a reexamination of the possible contribution of religion and theology in terms of distinctively religious content, communities and methodologies. Hence, a ray of hope appears on the horizon for religion to reinsert itself into the bioethical debate, which has become impoverished from its absence.
Anyone familiar with the history of bioethics will agree that it emerged as a result of public sc... more Anyone familiar with the history of bioethics will agree that it emerged as a result of public scandals of unethical experimentations on vulnerable groups of the American society. One can recall the famous 1966 whistle-blowing article by Dr. Henry Beecher in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Tuskegee and the syphilis scandals as landmark events in the nascent field of bioethics.
In our earlier replies, we outlined both where we agreed and disagreed with Hon-Lam Li’s Rawlsian... more In our earlier replies, we outlined both where we agreed and disagreed with Hon-Lam Li’s Rawlsian conception of public reason and its bearing on physician-assisted-suicide and Ruiping Fan’s Confucian approach to these issues. Similarly, both Li and Fan have presented similar assessments of our initial paper and each other’s. Here we take stock of their replies and reflect on the value of this exchange.
The chapter argues that the natural law tradition’s conception of public reason is more consisten... more The chapter argues that the natural law tradition’s conception of public reason is more consistent than that of political liberalism, especially when it comes to bioethical legislation. After offering a précis of Thomist natural law theory, the chapter examines Alasdair MacIntyre’s treatment of the rational resolution of moral disagreements and argues that, in line with the natural law tradition, public reason should be construed as a shared political deliberation that is rooted in truth-directed inquiry. Furthermore, MacIntyre points to how such a truth-directed inquiry requires a set of commitments which correspond to the primary precepts of natural law. A just political order should pursue and promote this sort of public reasoning, even amid the systematic and apparently intractable moral disagreement of a pluralistic society. However, whereas MacIntyre believes that such shared deliberation is no longer possible outside local communities, we shall reflect, with the aid of the natural law tradition’s conception of legislation, on how his proposals might carry over to the full-fledged public reasoning of political decision-making. We conclude that the natural law tradition’s conception of public reason is more consistent than that of political liberalism when it comes to legislation on bioethical issues, such as abortion and medically assisted suicide. By requiring that laws be morally justified through truth-directed inquiry into the relevant second-order issues, it has more rigorous standards against arbitrariness.
Applied ethics is an academic discipline that inquires about the correctness of certain practical... more Applied ethics is an academic discipline that inquires about the correctness of certain practical human activities, primarily using philosophical methods. This inquiry can be traced to antiquity since ethics is mostly concerned with the practical actions of daily life, and different professions have codes guiding such actions. As an academic discipline, it was conceived in the West in the 1960s due to secularization, technological advances, and a void in public policy. The global dimension in recent years makes these issues more acute. Applied ethics can be further specialized into bioethics, environmental ethics, sexual ethics, business ethics, and social ethics, in additional to newly emerging areas. From a global perspective, this entry will address the debates on the existence of objective moral truths, the sources of morality, the proliferation of competing models, the role of science and technology, the role of religion, and the tension between universal ethics and cultural diversity.
Abstract This paper analyses the underlying tendencies and attitudes towards reproductive medicin... more Abstract This paper analyses the underlying tendencies and attitudes towards reproductive medicine borrowing the Nietzschean concepts of nihilism: ‘death of God’ with secularization; ‘will to power’ with reproductive liberty and technological power; and the race of ‘supermen’ with transhumanism. Medical science has advanced in leaps and bounds. In some way, technical innovations have given us unprecedented power to manipulate the way we reproduce. The indiscriminant use of medical technology is backed by a warped notion of human freedom. With secularization in the West, freedom has taken on greater significance in society, but with a heavy emphasis on individual choices and rights. As technology joins forces with sexual liberty, it is not difficult to understand why the public accepts the latest novelty from the reproductive industry. As a result, many find Catholic teaching behind the times and incomprehensible, if not downright anti-scientific. In fact, this coupling of reproductive liberty (will) with reproductive technology (power) echoes the famous dictum ‘will to power’ Nietzsche predicted would characterize post-modern societies. When liberty becomes absolute and technology unchecked, transhumanism is the logical outcome. As a response to these nihilistic tendencies, the article will end with a critique drawing from theological insights.
This paper looks at the ethics of opt-in vs. opt-out of organ donation as Scotland has transition... more This paper looks at the ethics of opt-in vs. opt-out of organ donation as Scotland has transitioned its systems to promote greater organ availability. We first analyse studies that compare the donation rates in other regions due to such a system switch and find that organ increase is inconclusive and modest at best. This is due to a lack of explicit opt-out choices resulting in greater resistance and family override unless there are infrastructures and greater awareness to support such change. The paper then looks at the difference between informed consent of the opt-in vs. presumed consent in the opt-out approaches. Patient autonomy and dignity are better reflected with informed consent. Eighteen months have passed since the new organ donation policy has come into effect, this paper recommends more research into organ donors’ psychological motivations to help governments and the healthcare profession obtain more organs for transplantation.
Nanotecnologie, biotecnologie, scienze cognitive, tecnologie dell’informazione … ciò che un tempo... more Nanotecnologie, biotecnologie, scienze cognitive, tecnologie dell’informazione … ciò che un tempo era prospettato solo dalla fantascienza, adesso è di fronte a noi, se non già nelle nostre mani, nei nostri cibi, nei nostri figli. In molti si domandano se questi avanzamenti della scienza e della tecnologia non siano stati troppo rapidi, temendo che se ne sia ormai perso il controllo. Altri, piuttosto, salutano con esultanza questi inarrestabili successi, attendendosi da essi l’immortalità e un mondo perfetto. Rifuggendo sia da trionfalismi sia da catastrofismi, questo volume tenta di fare il punto sulla situazione, raccogliendo gli interventi di vari esperti e affiancando considerazioni scientifiche a riflessioni filosofiche e teologiche. Siamo, infatti, consapevoli che, affinché ci sia vero progresso, all’aumento delle conoscenze e all’avanzamento della tecnica, non deve corrispondere un arretramento morale o un impoverimento antropologico. Con questa pubblicazione, come bioeticisti, giochiamo di anticipo e, pertanto, siamo nella miglior condizione per poter indicare la strada verso un progresso scientifico che non tradisca, ma accompagni l’uomo verso la vera felicità, intesa come realizzazione umana integrale. Considerata l’ampiezza e l’importanza della posta in gioco e per trovare le risposte giuste, abbiamo voluto porci, oggi, le domande del futuro: perché, in un certo senso, oggi è già domani.
We can better appreciate many current bioethical dilemmas in terms of human suffering and its all... more We can better appreciate many current bioethical dilemmas in terms of human suffering and its alleviation by means of modern technology. In part one of the article, we see how suffering is a ubiquitous experience, and human responses are found in two categories—religious explanations that find answers in a transcendent kingdom and immanent solutions to banish pain by technical means. As societies became more secular, technological solutions prevailed. Certainly, modern advances have brought us greater comforts, curing many diseases and prolonging lives. Nonetheless, these technologies are not without ambiguities, and can be causes of anguish. The debates surrounding stem cells and end of life issues are examples of these ironies, where miracle cures or lifesaving machines can diminish our humanity. In part two of the article, a historical and philosophical analysis of technology offers a deeper understanding of our present predicament. Accordingly, this paper examines the thoughts o...
Interreligious Perspectives on Mind, Genes and the Self, 2018
Attitudes towards science, medicine and the body are all profoundly shaped by people’s worldviews... more Attitudes towards science, medicine and the body are all profoundly shaped by people’s worldviews. When discussing issues of bioethics, religion often plays a major role. In this volume, the role of genetic manipulation and neurotechnology in shaping human identity is examined from multiple religious perspectives. This can help us to understand how religion might affect the impact of the initiatives such as the UNESCO Declaration in Bioethics and Human Rights.
The Third Colloquium of the IACB was held from July 1 to 5, 2007, at St.
Mary’s University Colle... more The Third Colloquium of the IACB was held from July 1 to 5, 2007, at St. Mary’s University College, Twickenham, London, U.K., to explore the theme “Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine: How Far Should We Go?” Participants in the colloquium discussed the goals of the emerging field of regenerative medicine and reflected on the means by which cell-based interventions in regenerative medicine are being investigated
In our paper we defended the idea that public reason is essentially truth-directed political inqu... more In our paper we defended the idea that public reason is essentially truth-directed political inquiry and decision making, and that this is the conception of public reason with which the natural law tradition works. We shall engage the other chapters in this collection by comparing this conception of public reason to their alternative proposals. First, we shall briefly survey the chapters on the general concept of public reason and its applicability to bioethics. Then we shall consider the chapters that articulate and defend alternative conceptions of it. The alternative conceptions which this volume considers are the Rawlsian, the principal representative of political liberalism’s approach to the issue, and the Confucian. In considering the former, we will focus mainly on the chapter dedicated explicitly to defending Rawls’ theory of public reason as the proper framework for bioethical policies. However, we shall also look at the relevant points of the chapters that endorse either a Rawlsian conception of public reason or that of its philosophical forebear, Kant. It is not within the plan of the volume for the authors of this last set of chapters to write replies. For this reason, our remarks on them are not meant as critiques but merely aim to clarify the points of agreement and disagreement that exist between the natural law conception of public reason and that of political liberalism.
Michael Cheng-tek Tai, The Way of Asian Bioethics, Princeton International Printing Co, Taipei, T... more Michael Cheng-tek Tai, The Way of Asian Bioethics, Princeton International Printing Co, Taipei, Taiwan, 2008.
In this age of globalization, bioethical issues are shared across different cultural and national borders. The increased mobility of the peoples often poses difficult challenges to health care workers. It is not uncommon nowadays that caregivers and patients come from very diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, making communication and comprehension arduous. This book is a special contribution on the way Asians
view bioethical issues and will provide an enormous help to healthcare providers when treating patients coming from these regions.
This article looks at the question of sin and disease in bioethics with a spiritual-theological a... more This article looks at the question of sin and disease in bioethics with a spiritual-theological analysis from the book of Job. The biblical figure Job is an innocent and just man who suffered horrendously. His dialogues with others—his wife, his friends, and God—can give many valuable insights for patients who suffer and for those who interact with them. Family, friends, physicians, nurses, chaplains, and pastoral workers can learn from Job how to communicate properly with sufferers. The main question for Job was how to maintain the tension between God’s justice and God’s mercy and not yield to the temptation of cursing God but to speak well of Him in moments of difficulties.
Since the times of the Enlightenment, traditional control of religion in vital spheres of the soc... more Since the times of the Enlightenment, traditional control of religion in vital spheres of the social order began to crumble under the secular challenge of politics, culture, science, economy, judiciary, philosophy, and education. Ethics and theology were probably the last strongholds until they eventually succumbed as well under the influence of the now secularized academia. This happened at a time when society was restless with exciting medical discoveries which brought with them the age-old questions of just distribution, legitimate use of technology and justified manipulation of nature. The debate on contraception was among the test cases of novel technology with ethical substance, and dissent against church teaching caused an exodus of scholar to join the burgeoning field of bioethics. Even though theologians made important seminal contributions in the early days of bioethics, it was philosophy that bioethics eventually fell back on because of the troubles facing theology. Principlism soon became the dominant philosophical model to be applied in policymaking and at the bedside. However, the consensus achieved by this ethic looked contrived and open to manipulation of the potent. As discontents brewed, a plethora of competing models surged on the horizon, many of them sought to relocate ethics in the context of the situation or the character of the moral agent. Unwittingly, this puts secular bioethics on the path toward ethical relativism, liberalism and nihilism. Bioethics has become a secular creature which not only rejects religion but now questions the very possibility of reason itself. Different speculations sought to provide the causes of the secularization of bioethics. At root is an uncertainty about the place of religion in democracy, and of situating religious ethics in public ethics. Secular bioethics’ inadequacy also calls for a reexamination of the possible contribution of religion and theology in terms of distinctively religious content, communities and methodologies. Hence, a ray of hope appears on the horizon for religion to reinsert itself into the bioethical debate, which has become impoverished from its absence.
Anyone familiar with the history of bioethics will agree that it emerged as a result of public sc... more Anyone familiar with the history of bioethics will agree that it emerged as a result of public scandals of unethical experimentations on vulnerable groups of the American society. One can recall the famous 1966 whistle-blowing article by Dr. Henry Beecher in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Tuskegee and the syphilis scandals as landmark events in the nascent field of bioethics.
In our earlier replies, we outlined both where we agreed and disagreed with Hon-Lam Li’s Rawlsian... more In our earlier replies, we outlined both where we agreed and disagreed with Hon-Lam Li’s Rawlsian conception of public reason and its bearing on physician-assisted-suicide and Ruiping Fan’s Confucian approach to these issues. Similarly, both Li and Fan have presented similar assessments of our initial paper and each other’s. Here we take stock of their replies and reflect on the value of this exchange.
The chapter argues that the natural law tradition’s conception of public reason is more consisten... more The chapter argues that the natural law tradition’s conception of public reason is more consistent than that of political liberalism, especially when it comes to bioethical legislation. After offering a précis of Thomist natural law theory, the chapter examines Alasdair MacIntyre’s treatment of the rational resolution of moral disagreements and argues that, in line with the natural law tradition, public reason should be construed as a shared political deliberation that is rooted in truth-directed inquiry. Furthermore, MacIntyre points to how such a truth-directed inquiry requires a set of commitments which correspond to the primary precepts of natural law. A just political order should pursue and promote this sort of public reasoning, even amid the systematic and apparently intractable moral disagreement of a pluralistic society. However, whereas MacIntyre believes that such shared deliberation is no longer possible outside local communities, we shall reflect, with the aid of the natural law tradition’s conception of legislation, on how his proposals might carry over to the full-fledged public reasoning of political decision-making. We conclude that the natural law tradition’s conception of public reason is more consistent than that of political liberalism when it comes to legislation on bioethical issues, such as abortion and medically assisted suicide. By requiring that laws be morally justified through truth-directed inquiry into the relevant second-order issues, it has more rigorous standards against arbitrariness.
Applied ethics is an academic discipline that inquires about the correctness of certain practical... more Applied ethics is an academic discipline that inquires about the correctness of certain practical human activities, primarily using philosophical methods. This inquiry can be traced to antiquity since ethics is mostly concerned with the practical actions of daily life, and different professions have codes guiding such actions. As an academic discipline, it was conceived in the West in the 1960s due to secularization, technological advances, and a void in public policy. The global dimension in recent years makes these issues more acute. Applied ethics can be further specialized into bioethics, environmental ethics, sexual ethics, business ethics, and social ethics, in additional to newly emerging areas. From a global perspective, this entry will address the debates on the existence of objective moral truths, the sources of morality, the proliferation of competing models, the role of science and technology, the role of religion, and the tension between universal ethics and cultural diversity.
Abstract This paper analyses the underlying tendencies and attitudes towards reproductive medicin... more Abstract This paper analyses the underlying tendencies and attitudes towards reproductive medicine borrowing the Nietzschean concepts of nihilism: ‘death of God’ with secularization; ‘will to power’ with reproductive liberty and technological power; and the race of ‘supermen’ with transhumanism. Medical science has advanced in leaps and bounds. In some way, technical innovations have given us unprecedented power to manipulate the way we reproduce. The indiscriminant use of medical technology is backed by a warped notion of human freedom. With secularization in the West, freedom has taken on greater significance in society, but with a heavy emphasis on individual choices and rights. As technology joins forces with sexual liberty, it is not difficult to understand why the public accepts the latest novelty from the reproductive industry. As a result, many find Catholic teaching behind the times and incomprehensible, if not downright anti-scientific. In fact, this coupling of reproductive liberty (will) with reproductive technology (power) echoes the famous dictum ‘will to power’ Nietzsche predicted would characterize post-modern societies. When liberty becomes absolute and technology unchecked, transhumanism is the logical outcome. As a response to these nihilistic tendencies, the article will end with a critique drawing from theological insights.
This paper looks at the ethics of opt-in vs. opt-out of organ donation as Scotland has transition... more This paper looks at the ethics of opt-in vs. opt-out of organ donation as Scotland has transitioned its systems to promote greater organ availability. We first analyse studies that compare the donation rates in other regions due to such a system switch and find that organ increase is inconclusive and modest at best. This is due to a lack of explicit opt-out choices resulting in greater resistance and family override unless there are infrastructures and greater awareness to support such change. The paper then looks at the difference between informed consent of the opt-in vs. presumed consent in the opt-out approaches. Patient autonomy and dignity are better reflected with informed consent. Eighteen months have passed since the new organ donation policy has come into effect, this paper recommends more research into organ donors’ psychological motivations to help governments and the healthcare profession obtain more organs for transplantation.
Nanotecnologie, biotecnologie, scienze cognitive, tecnologie dell’informazione … ciò che un tempo... more Nanotecnologie, biotecnologie, scienze cognitive, tecnologie dell’informazione … ciò che un tempo era prospettato solo dalla fantascienza, adesso è di fronte a noi, se non già nelle nostre mani, nei nostri cibi, nei nostri figli. In molti si domandano se questi avanzamenti della scienza e della tecnologia non siano stati troppo rapidi, temendo che se ne sia ormai perso il controllo. Altri, piuttosto, salutano con esultanza questi inarrestabili successi, attendendosi da essi l’immortalità e un mondo perfetto. Rifuggendo sia da trionfalismi sia da catastrofismi, questo volume tenta di fare il punto sulla situazione, raccogliendo gli interventi di vari esperti e affiancando considerazioni scientifiche a riflessioni filosofiche e teologiche. Siamo, infatti, consapevoli che, affinché ci sia vero progresso, all’aumento delle conoscenze e all’avanzamento della tecnica, non deve corrispondere un arretramento morale o un impoverimento antropologico. Con questa pubblicazione, come bioeticisti, giochiamo di anticipo e, pertanto, siamo nella miglior condizione per poter indicare la strada verso un progresso scientifico che non tradisca, ma accompagni l’uomo verso la vera felicità, intesa come realizzazione umana integrale. Considerata l’ampiezza e l’importanza della posta in gioco e per trovare le risposte giuste, abbiamo voluto porci, oggi, le domande del futuro: perché, in un certo senso, oggi è già domani.
We can better appreciate many current bioethical dilemmas in terms of human suffering and its all... more We can better appreciate many current bioethical dilemmas in terms of human suffering and its alleviation by means of modern technology. In part one of the article, we see how suffering is a ubiquitous experience, and human responses are found in two categories—religious explanations that find answers in a transcendent kingdom and immanent solutions to banish pain by technical means. As societies became more secular, technological solutions prevailed. Certainly, modern advances have brought us greater comforts, curing many diseases and prolonging lives. Nonetheless, these technologies are not without ambiguities, and can be causes of anguish. The debates surrounding stem cells and end of life issues are examples of these ironies, where miracle cures or lifesaving machines can diminish our humanity. In part two of the article, a historical and philosophical analysis of technology offers a deeper understanding of our present predicament. Accordingly, this paper examines the thoughts o...
Interreligious Perspectives on Mind, Genes and the Self, 2018
Attitudes towards science, medicine and the body are all profoundly shaped by people’s worldviews... more Attitudes towards science, medicine and the body are all profoundly shaped by people’s worldviews. When discussing issues of bioethics, religion often plays a major role. In this volume, the role of genetic manipulation and neurotechnology in shaping human identity is examined from multiple religious perspectives. This can help us to understand how religion might affect the impact of the initiatives such as the UNESCO Declaration in Bioethics and Human Rights.
The Secularization of Bioethics—A Critical History, Aug 2007
Since the times of the Enlightenment, traditional control of religion in vital spheres of the soc... more Since the times of the Enlightenment, traditional control of religion in vital spheres of the social order began to crumble under the secular challenge of politics, culture, science, economy, judiciary, philosophy, and education. Ethics and theology were probably the last strongholds until they eventually succumbed as well under the influence of the now secularized academia. This happened at a time when society was restless with exciting medical discoveries which brought with them the age-old questions of just distribution, legitimate use of technology and justified manipulation of nature. The debate on contraception was among the test cases of novel technology with ethical substance, and dissent against church teaching caused an exodus of scholar to join the burgeoning field of bioethics. Even though theologians made important seminal contributions in the early days of bioethics, it was philosophy that bioethics eventually fell back on because of the troubles facing theology. Principlism soon became the dominant philosophical model to be applied in policymaking and at the bedside. However, the consensus achieved by this ethic looked contrived and open to manipulation of the potent. As discontents brewed, a plethora of competing models surged on the horizon, many of them sought to relocate ethics in the context of the situation or the character of the moral agent. Unwittingly, this puts secular bioethics on the path toward ethical relativism, liberalism and nihilism. Bioethics has become a secular creature which not only rejects religion but now questions the very possibility of reason itself. Different speculations sought to provide the causes of the secularization of bioethics. At root is an uncertainty about the place of religion in democracy, and of situating religious ethics in public ethics. Secular bioethics’ inadequacy also calls for a reexamination of the possible contribution of religion and theology in terms of distinctively religious content, communities and methodologies. Hence, a ray of hope appears on the horizon for religion to reinsert itself into the bioethical debate, which has become impoverished from its absence.
La Bioetica, crocevia tra Fede, Ragione e Scienza, 2018
La bioetica si interessa di ciò che costituisce l’essere umano e il suo ambiente. Non soltanto la... more La bioetica si interessa di ciò che costituisce l’essere umano e il suo ambiente. Non soltanto la ragione, ma anche la fede può contribuire all’etica e all’azione umana giusta. Emerge perciò un interessante crocevia nel modo di comprendere Dio, il Cosmo e l’Essere Umano attraverso la prospettiva della fede, della ragione e della scienza. Questo volume prende in considerazione le domande specifiche di queste tre prospettive di conoscenza rispetto alla vita in generale, all’anima umana e alla persona; analizza, inoltre, come la fede possa costituire delle vere e proprie forme di conoscenza delle verità scientifiche; e traccia la storia del conflitto tra fede e scienza, considerando soprattutto le sfide sollevate da Galileo e Darwin. Il libro, infine, affronta specifici problemi della bioetica relativi a tematiche d’avanguardia come la genetica e le neuroscienze in un crocevia tra teologia, filosofia e scienza.
The debates on gender and sexuality are widespread today. Many claim that a cultural war is being... more The debates on gender and sexuality are widespread today. Many claim that a cultural war is being waged between “conservatives” who uphold the time-honored values of family and sexuality and “liberals” who promote an agenda to redefine these traditional roles. Since the public is often uninformed about the science and philosophical currents undergirding the questions of gender and sexuality, the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum organized an academic symposium in Rome to shed light on the debate. This book gathers the insights of that symposium, which integrated the disciplines of medicine, neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, history, philosophy, moral theology, biblical studies, law, bioethics, and pedagogy. This work is aimed at Catholics and all those who seek a more profound understanding of one of today’s most important topics. In the personalist approach of bioethics, the natural law tradition distinguishes the person from his or her acts. In the case of same-sex attractions, the Church teaches clearly that the inclination is not in itself sinful, and that persons with such attractions are deserving of respect and compassion in accord with their full human dignity. Nonetheless, same-sex acts are not natural or ordered. The Church strives to build bridges with the LGBT community by fostering a relationship of compassion, sensitivity, and mutual respect. However, real bridges also require honesty and openness to the truths that pertain to human sexuality, procreation, the family, and the education of future generation.
La bioetica. Crocevia tra fede, ragione e scienza, 2018
La bioetica si interessa di ciò che costituisce l'essere umano e il suo ambiente. Non soltanto la... more La bioetica si interessa di ciò che costituisce l'essere umano e il suo ambiente. Non soltanto la ragione, ma anche la fede può contribuire all'etica e all'azione umana giusta. Emerge perciò un interessante crocevia nel modo di comprendere Dio, il Cosmo e l'Essere Umano attraverso la prospettiva della fede, della ragione e della scienza. Questo volume prende in considerazione le domande specifiche di queste tre prospettive di conoscenza rispetto alla vita in generale, all'anima umana e alla persona; analizza, inoltre, come la fede possa costituire delle vere e proprie forme di conoscenza delle verità scientifiche; e traccia la storia del conflitto tra fede e scienza, considerando soprattutto le sfide sollevate da Galileo e Darwin. Il libro, infine, affronta specifici problemi della bioetica relativi a tematiche d'avanguardia come la genetica e le neuroscienze in un crocevia tra teologia, filosofia e scienza.
Religious Perspectives on Social Responsibility in Health, 2018
This volume is a collection of papers commissioned and presented in a four-day workshop where bio... more This volume is a collection of papers commissioned and presented in a four-day workshop where bioethics experts from six major world religions—Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, & Judaism—gathered to discuss the meaning and implications of the social and ethical implications of the notion of social responsibility in their respective traditions and the ways in which their respective traditions could, or could not, uphold the tenets of Article 14. Judaism conceives social responsibility as universal equality; Islam as duty to God; Christianity as neighborly love; Confucianism as duty towards the family; Hinduism as a right balance of different duties; and Buddhism as active compassion. Each religion emphasizes a particular aspect of the principle. The summation of the different perspectives further enriches and completes the vision of social responsibility and promotion of health. Common concerns raised by these religious traditions are further explored. They regard the relationship between state and religion in an ever secularized world; the relationship between health and salvation; the question of egalitarian distribution; and the relation between responsibility and rights.
Interreligious Perspectives on Mind, Genes and the Self, 2018
Attitudes towards science, medicine and the body are all profoundly shaped by people’s worldviews... more Attitudes towards science, medicine and the body are all profoundly shaped by people’s worldviews. When discussing issues of bioethics, religion often plays a major role. In this volume, the role of genetic manipulation and neurotechnology in shaping human identity is examined from multiple religious perspectives. This can help us to understand how religion might affect the impact of the initiatives such as the UNESCO Declaration in Bioethics and Human Rights.
The book features bioethics experts from six major religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism. It includes a number of distinct religious and cultural views on the anthropological, ethical and social challenges of emerging technologies in the light of human rights and in the context of global bioethics. The contributors work together to explore issues such as: cultural attitudes to gene editing; neuroactive drugs; the interaction between genes and behaviours; the relationship between the soul, the mind and DNA; and how can clinical applications of these technologies benefit the developing world.
This is a significant collection, demonstrating how religion and modern technologies relate to one another. It will, therefore, be of great interest to academics working in bioethics, religion and the body, interreligious dialogue, and religion and science, technology and neuroscience.
The debates on gender and sexuality are widespread today. Many claim that a cultural war is being... more The debates on gender and sexuality are widespread today. Many claim that a cultural war is being waged between “conservatives” who uphold the time-honored values of family and sexuality and “liberals” who promote an agenda to redefine these traditional roles. Since the public is often uninformed about the science and philosophical currents undergirding the questions of gender and sexuality, the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum organized an academic symposium in Rome to shed light on the debate. This book gathers the insights of that symposium, which integrated the disciplines of medicine, neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, history, philosophy, moral theology, biblical studies, law, bioethics, and pedagogy. This work is aimed at Catholics and all those who seek a more profound understanding of one of today’s most important topics. In the personalist approach of bioethics, the natural law tradition distinguishes the person from his or her acts. In the case of same-sex attractions, the Church teaches clearly that the inclination is not in itself sinful, and that persons with such attractions are deserving of respect and compassion in accord with their full human dignity. Nonetheless, same-sex acts are not natural or ordered. The Church strives to build bridges with the LGBT community by fostering a relationship of compassion, sensitivity, and mutual respect. However, real bridges also require honesty and openness to the truths that pertain to human sexuality, procreation, the family, and the education of future generation.
Bioetica questione ambientale ed ecologia umana, 2017
Ai nostri giorni, serve di nuovo elevare lo sguardo verso l’ambiente naturale per riscoprire chi... more Ai nostri giorni, serve di nuovo elevare lo sguardo verso l’ambiente naturale per riscoprire chi siamo e chi dovremmo essere, la rete di relazioni in cui siamo inseriti, in un mondo che ci precede e ci è stato dato. Troppo concentrati su noi stessi, sui nostri bisogni, veri o costruiti, ora che finalmente abbiamo alzato lo sguardo, abbiamo scoperto attorno a noi un mondo meraviglioso, ma anche ferito. Non possiamo più negare questo grido, che è il grido dei poveri del pianeta ed è il grido stesso della terra. L’enciclica Laudato si’ di Papa Francesco va esattamente in questa direzione. Anche il Corso Estivo «Bioetica, questione ambientale ed ecologia umana» svolto a luglio del 2015 – pochissimi giorni dopo la pubblicazione dell’enciclica, dunque – dall’Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum ha avuto questa ossatura.
Religious Perspectives on Bioethics and Human Rights, 2017
After reading all these very interesting papers, the reader might find the relationship between u... more After reading all these very interesting papers, the reader might find the relationship between universal human rights and local cultural diversity to be more complex than first meets the eye. In this chapter, we will attempt to give an overview of the different positions of this relationship, from the perspectives of the major world religions and in reference to certain bioethical themes. We begin with a quick summary of the positions expressed within each of the seven religious traditions. This makes evident how time and again, cultural diversity is inseparable from the religious identity of the localities. Each religion faces challenges from their engagement with the global concept of human rights, from the interpretation of the religious response, and from the interaction between religion, culture and science. Second, we reflect on the cause of this tension, which is in fact an intersection of debates on different planes—cultural, political, philosophical, theological, and ultimately metaphysical. They range from the debate on a maximalist versus minimalist approach to ethics, the emphasis of duties contrasted with rights, the priority of religious against secular views, the tension between individual and societal rights, the relationship between faith, reason, and science, the question of nature versus nurture, and ultimately a metaphysical question regarding one versus many. Religious Perspectives on Rights and Duties First, we will look at the monotheistic religions which have a longer history of engagement with human rights, especially that of Western Christianity. As Palazzani notes, the relationship between Christianity and human rights has been uneasy at best. The Church's acceptance of the human rights language was relatively recent, and it was only after the Second World War that it has become commonly accepted in the West as compatible with Church teaching. Jacques Maritain, a Catholic metaphysician, laid the groundwork for it in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even though he was instrumental in arguing for its formulation in international politics, he was aware of its lack of a solid philosophical basis. As a neo-Thomist, he recognized the need to orient human rights towards finality, especially the goal of true human flourishing. Within this framework, Christian authors (Palazzani, Chang, Yeung, Kwan) employ natural law reasoning with an emphasis on the centrality of the human person. This vision of personhood is founded ontologically and not functionally, thus defending against the discrimination of human life from the very beginning (embryos) to the very end (comatose) even in the absence of functional manifestations. In this light, human beings are not reduced to the autonomous self as bearer of rights. Personhood also implies a relational dimension: towards others in solidarity, brotherhood, and an extension of charity towards the Other. The transcendental dimension of man also shows his openness towards God. Thus, according to the natural law tradition, reason and faith are not opposed. Palazzani quotes especially the International Theological Commission (ITC) document The Search for Universal Ethics: A New Look at Natural Law (Commission, 2012), which as the title suggests, has specially relevance for our discussion. Even though there is recognition of the basic tenants of human rights, Christians are nonetheless wary of its secular and liberal turn today. We already see this in some of the points mentioned above. The secular
Religious Perspectives on Bioethics and Human Rights, 2017
Are human rights really universal? Aren’t they a product of Western individualistic liberalism? C... more Are human rights really universal? Aren’t they a product of Western individualistic liberalism? Can they trump local practices and traditions, especially religious ones? These interrogatives will be the subject of this book.
Religious Perspectives on Human Vulnerability in Bioethics, 2014
It has been quite a stimulating experience to read the many different papers, with such a variety... more It has been quite a stimulating experience to read the many different papers, with such a variety of positions and backgrounds, on the rather novel topic of vulnerability in bioethics. We have been entrusted with the task to make a summary of the different papers, to mention some of the lessons learnt as well as the challenges that still lie before us. First, we will briefly summarize the different positions of the six religious groups based on the papers of this volume stressing the areas of convergence and the differences. Second, we will discuss the various questions raised in these papers and the lessons learned from them. Here we will proceed to look at the contentious concept of vulnerability in bioethics and the challenges regarding its status, content and scope. Then, we will look at the religious dimension and how it offers an added value to the discussion on vulnerability. In particular, all religious traditions seem to point to a more realistic assessment of the vulnerable human condition. This is often contrasted with an overly individualistic understanding of autonomy. Responsibility toward the other is discussed, as well as the prophetic dimension of religions in these issues. Finally, we will look at the ever-present tension between universal human rights and local (religious) traditions. 17.1 Different religious perspectives The papers presented study the question of vulnerability in bioethics and how religious traditions view this topic in the same way. Some authors analyze the question of vulnerability more from a philosophical perspective and only then examine them from a religious angle. Others look at the problem of vulnerability from a more specific question like informed consent, while others opt to paint in very wide brushstrokes the general attitudes of care from their religious traditions. The following summaries will be grouped more along the line of contiguous traditions. Hence, we will first look at the " Western " tradition, meaning the so-called Judeo-Christian approaches. This is followed by Islam due to its monotheistic affinity. Then we will look at the Eastern religions, starting with Hinduism, followed by Buddhism, with their particular emphasis on mysticism. We conclude with a look at Confucianism which is more ethical, and culturally based and less " religious. " Judaism emphasizes the primacy of God and the condition of human beings as creatures who as partners can cooperate with the Creator. The emphasis on human dignity is based on the theological understanding of being created in the image of God. Hence, human vulnerability is a consequence of our condition of being created. Barilan noted that whereas human dignity forms the basis of human rights whereby all of us deserve equal treatment, the vulnerable deserve
Religious Perspectives in Human Vulnerability, Jun 2014
With the advance of biomedicine, certain individuals and groups are vulnerable because of their i... more With the advance of biomedicine, certain individuals and groups are vulnerable because of their incapacities to defend themselves. The International Bioethics Committee as a UNESCO working group has for the last several years dedicated to deepen this principle of human vulnerability and personal integrity. This book serves to supplement this effort with a religious perspective given a great number of the world’s population is affiliated with some religious traditions. While there is diversity within each of these traditions, all of them carry in them the mission to protect the weak, the underprivileged, and the poor. Thus, here presented is a collection of papers written by bioethics experts from six major world religions—Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism—who were gathered to discuss the meaning and implications of the principle of vulnerability in their respective traditions.
Nanotecnologie, biotecnologie, scienze cognitive, tecnologie dell’informazione … ciò che un tempo... more Nanotecnologie, biotecnologie, scienze cognitive, tecnologie dell’informazione … ciò che un tempo era prospettato solo dalla fantascienza, adesso è di fronte a noi, se non già nelle nostre mani, nei nostri cibi, nei nostri figli. In molti si domandano se questi avanzamenti della scienza e della tecnologia non siano stati troppo rapidi, temendo che se ne sia ormai perso il controllo. Altri, piuttosto, salutano con esultanza questi inarrestabili successi, attendendosi da essi l’immortalità e un mondo perfetto.
Rifuggendo sia da trionfalismi sia da catastrofismi, questo volume tenta di fare il punto sulla situazione, raccogliendo gli interventi di vari esperti e affiancando considerazioni scientifiche a riflessioni filosofiche e teologiche. Siamo, infatti, consapevoli che, affinché ci sia vero progresso, all’aumento delle conoscenze e all’avanzamento della tecnica, non deve corrispondere un arretramento morale o un impoverimento antropologico.
Con questa pubblicazione, come bioeticisti, giochiamo di anticipo e, pertanto, siamo nella miglior condizione per poter indicare la strada verso un progresso scientifico che non tradisca, ma accompagni l’uomo verso la vera felicità, intesa come realizzazione umana integrale.
Considerata l’ampiezza e l’importanza della posta in gioco e per trovare le risposte giuste, abbiamo voluto porci, oggi, le domande del futuro: perché, in un certo senso, oggi è già domani.
this is a timely book in the age of vertiginous technological advances in the field of medicine. ... more this is a timely book in the age of vertiginous technological advances in the field of medicine. the author Dr. Herbert Ho Ping Kong makes his observations from the perspective of a clinician who has been practicing internal medicine for fifty years spanning three continents.
The 5th International Bioethics, Multiculturalism and Religion Workshop and Conference organized ... more The 5th International Bioethics, Multiculturalism and Religion Workshop and Conference organized by the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights was held at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA from November 14 - 16, 2016. The theme discussed was entitled, “Bioethical Challenges in Neurogenomics from an Interreligious and Multicultural Perspective.” On this occasion, 30 bioethicists and religious scholars from six major religious traditions actively participated and debated about the implications of these new technologies.neurodegenerative diseases by identifying common molecular pathways in neurodegeneration and cell type-specific gene expression patterns that may underscore selective susceptibility of specific neurons in disease. " (Nature Neuroscience 2004 May; 7, 5: 429-33) Neurogenomics is presently at a very exciting crossroad since recent discoveries have challenged the classic model of gene organization and information flow, and for these reasons are improving our self-understanding by providing biological descriptions of human actions. However, the bioethics need to carefully examine human actions within the phenomenon of multicultural and interreligious reality. Many questions remain in the philosophical contemplation of the intersection of human identity, genetics and neuroscience. The workshop's participants discussed among themselves these anthropological and bioethical dilemmas from the perspective of cultures and religions. These questions include: How does cultural and religious traditions consider genetics and neuroscientific developments? Can genetic and brain interventions, drugs, and devices be applied to alter a someone's personality, identity, or behaviors? Can genes and the brain substitute the explanation of human nature, identity and behavior than the soul? What is the relationship between DNA, brain, mind, and soul? In this number of Studia Bioethica, we have chosen the discussion from two religions, namely Christianity (especially Catholicism) and Judaism, and dialogs between them. Within the framework of global bioethics, the authors considered the anthropological, ethical and social impact of genetic and neurobiological manipulations and their implications on selfhood. The core of the debate centers around what constitutes human identity—the human soul,
Cinquecentoquaranta, tra insegnanti, genitori, educatori, religiosi, giovani, i partecipanti al S... more Cinquecentoquaranta, tra insegnanti, genitori, educatori, religiosi, giovani, i partecipanti al Seminario “Sapere per educare. Affettività, Sessualità, Bellezza”, svoltosi presso il
nostro Ateneo Regina Apostolorum, il 7-8 marzo 2015, organizzato dalla Facoltà di Bioetica
La Bioetica, crocevia tra fede, ragione e scienza
In this Year of the Faith, the School of Bioet... more La Bioetica, crocevia tra fede, ragione e scienza
In this Year of the Faith, the School of Bioethics wanted to look at the relationship between faith, reason and science as they can have important implications in bioethics. This number of the journal is a collection of some of the talks given in the summer course as well as reflections of participants in the course.
Bioethics analyzes human acts in life sciences, medicine, and biotechnology. In this sense, we need to examine the constitution of human beings (anthropology) and his surrounding (culture). We also need to see how faith and reason can contribute to ethics and correct human actions. Then, in science, we need to examine the physical world in terms of the cosmos, the natural world, and lastly human beings themselves.
In quest’Anno della Fede, la Facoltà di Bioetica ha voluto prendere in considerazione il rapporto tra fede, ragione e scienza visto e considerando che tale rapporto può avere grandi implicazioni in bioetica. Questo numero della rivista è una raccolta di alcune delle conferenze tenute durante il corso estivo, così come contiene le riflessioni dei partecipanti al corso stesso.
il Principio di Responsabilità Sociale in Bioetica
Based on Article 14 of the UNESCO Declaration... more il Principio di Responsabilità Sociale in Bioetica
Based on Article 14 of the UNESCO Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, and research papers presented at the Workshop held in Mexico City, November 2014.
This number of Studia Bioethica is dedicated to explore the relationship between beauty and bioet... more This number of Studia Bioethica is dedicated to explore the relationship between beauty and bioethics, a topic that at first sight could seem unconnected or even contradictory. Historically, artists are not well known for their exemplary lifestyles.
Contemporary art, in fact, can be provocative, outrageous, nihilistic and even outright obscene. At the same time, ethicists do not seem very interested in artistic endeavors or esthetical
appreciations.
Questo numero di Studia Bioethica è dedicato a esplorare il rapporto tra bellezza e bioetica, un argomento che sembra, a prima vista, estraneo o addirittura contraddittorio.
Storicamente, gli artisti non sono ben noti per la loro vita esemplare. L’arte contemporanea, infatti, può essere provocatoria, scandalosa, nichilista o perfino oscena.
Allo stesso tempo, gli esperti di etica non sembrano molto interessati a sforzi artistici o apprezzamenti estetici.
Hong Kong Journal of Catholic Studies, No. 3, 2012, Center for Catholic Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
香港中文大學天主教研究中心本年度期刊將致力討論科學與信仰的關係,這亦是一個具爭議且棘手的議題。無容置疑,隨著科技進步,現代世界不斷改變,這議題十分重要。與此同時,不管好壞,宗教經常被新聞報導成為... more 香港中文大學天主教研究中心本年度期刊將致力討論科學與信仰的關係,這亦是一個具爭議且棘手的議題。無容置疑,隨著科技進步,現代世界不斷改變,這議題十分重要。與此同時,不管好壞,宗教經常被新聞報導成為一個文化及社會上的主要勢力。科學與宗教曾經一度成為伴侶,現在他們卻被理解為經常在
道德以及意識形態層面上發生衝突的競爭者。
This year’s publication by the Centre for Catholic Studies at the Hong Kong Chinese University is dedicated to the thorny question of the relationship between science and faith. One cannot deny the importance of this very current topic, since the modern world is constantly changing as a result of the advances of science and technology. At the same time, for better or for worse, religion frequently appears in the news as a major force in culture and society. While science and religion were one-time partners, they are now perceived as competitors with frequent clashes at the ethical and ideological levels.
On December 3-5, 2013, the third international Workshop on “Human Rights and multiculturalism” wa... more On December 3-5, 2013, the third international Workshop on “Human Rights and multiculturalism” was held at the Hong Kong Baptist university. under the patronage of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights. This number is a collection of some of those papers
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Papers by (Stephen) Joseph Tham
Mary’s University College, Twickenham, London, U.K., to explore the theme “Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine: How Far Should We Go?” Participants in the colloquium discussed the goals of the emerging field of regenerative medicine and reflected on the means by which cell-based interventions in regenerative medicine are being investigated
In this age of globalization, bioethical issues are shared across different cultural and national borders. The increased mobility of the peoples often poses difficult challenges to health care workers. It is not uncommon nowadays that caregivers and patients come from very diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, making communication and comprehension arduous. This book is a special contribution on the way Asians
view bioethical issues and will provide an enormous help to healthcare providers when treating patients coming from these regions.
Mary’s University College, Twickenham, London, U.K., to explore the theme “Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine: How Far Should We Go?” Participants in the colloquium discussed the goals of the emerging field of regenerative medicine and reflected on the means by which cell-based interventions in regenerative medicine are being investigated
In this age of globalization, bioethical issues are shared across different cultural and national borders. The increased mobility of the peoples often poses difficult challenges to health care workers. It is not uncommon nowadays that caregivers and patients come from very diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, making communication and comprehension arduous. This book is a special contribution on the way Asians
view bioethical issues and will provide an enormous help to healthcare providers when treating patients coming from these regions.
conceives social responsibility as universal equality; Islam as duty to God; Christianity as neighborly love; Confucianism as duty towards the family; Hinduism as a right balance of different duties; and Buddhism as active compassion. Each religion emphasizes a particular aspect of the principle. The summation of the different perspectives further enriches and completes the vision of social responsibility and promotion of health. Common concerns raised by these religious traditions are further explored. They regard the relationship between state and religion in an ever secularized world; the relationship between health and salvation; the question of egalitarian distribution; and the relation between responsibility and rights.
The book features bioethics experts from six major religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism. It includes a number of distinct religious and cultural views on the anthropological, ethical and social challenges of emerging technologies in the light of human rights and in the context of global bioethics. The contributors work together to explore issues such as: cultural attitudes to gene editing; neuroactive drugs; the interaction between genes and behaviours; the relationship between the soul, the mind and DNA; and how can clinical applications of these technologies benefit the developing world.
This is a significant collection, demonstrating how religion and modern technologies relate to one another. It will, therefore, be of great interest to academics working in bioethics, religion and the body, interreligious dialogue, and religion and science, technology and neuroscience.
Rifuggendo sia da trionfalismi sia da catastrofismi, questo volume tenta di fare il punto sulla situazione, raccogliendo gli interventi di vari esperti e affiancando considerazioni scientifiche a riflessioni filosofiche e teologiche. Siamo, infatti, consapevoli che, affinché ci sia vero progresso, all’aumento delle conoscenze e all’avanzamento della tecnica, non deve corrispondere un arretramento morale o un impoverimento antropologico.
Con questa pubblicazione, come bioeticisti, giochiamo di anticipo e, pertanto, siamo nella miglior condizione per poter indicare la strada verso un progresso scientifico che non tradisca, ma accompagni l’uomo verso la vera felicità, intesa come realizzazione umana integrale.
Considerata l’ampiezza e l’importanza della posta in gioco e per trovare le risposte giuste, abbiamo voluto porci, oggi, le domande del futuro: perché, in un certo senso, oggi è già domani.
nostro Ateneo Regina Apostolorum, il 7-8 marzo 2015, organizzato dalla Facoltà di Bioetica
In this Year of the Faith, the School of Bioethics wanted to look at the relationship between faith, reason and science as they can have important implications in bioethics. This number of the journal is a collection of some of the talks given in the summer course as well as reflections of participants in the course.
Bioethics analyzes human acts in life sciences, medicine, and biotechnology. In this sense, we need to examine the constitution of human beings (anthropology) and his surrounding (culture). We also need to see how faith and reason can contribute to ethics and correct human actions. Then, in science, we need to examine the physical world in terms of the cosmos, the natural world, and lastly human beings themselves.
In quest’Anno della Fede, la Facoltà di Bioetica ha voluto prendere in considerazione il rapporto tra fede, ragione e scienza visto e considerando che tale rapporto può avere grandi implicazioni in bioetica. Questo numero della rivista è una raccolta di alcune delle conferenze tenute durante il corso estivo, così come contiene le riflessioni dei partecipanti al corso stesso.
Based on Article 14 of the UNESCO Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, and research papers presented at the Workshop held in Mexico City, November 2014.
Contemporary art, in fact, can be provocative, outrageous, nihilistic and even outright obscene. At the same time, ethicists do not seem very interested in artistic endeavors or esthetical
appreciations.
Questo numero di Studia Bioethica è dedicato a esplorare il rapporto tra bellezza e bioetica, un argomento che sembra, a prima vista, estraneo o addirittura contraddittorio.
Storicamente, gli artisti non sono ben noti per la loro vita esemplare. L’arte contemporanea, infatti, può essere provocatoria, scandalosa, nichilista o perfino oscena.
Allo stesso tempo, gli esperti di etica non sembrano molto interessati a sforzi artistici o apprezzamenti estetici.
道德以及意識形態層面上發生衝突的競爭者。
This year’s publication by the Centre for Catholic Studies at the Hong Kong Chinese University is dedicated to the thorny question of the relationship between science and faith. One cannot deny the importance of this very current topic, since the modern world is constantly changing as a result of the advances of science and technology. At the same time, for better or for worse, religion frequently appears in the news as a major force in culture and society. While science and religion were one-time partners, they are now perceived as competitors with frequent clashes at the ethical and ideological levels.