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THE FUTURE OF BIOETHICS: THREE DOGMAS AND A CUP OF HEMLOCK
Author(s) -
DAWSON ANGUS
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
bioethics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-8519
pISSN - 0269-9702
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2010.01814.x
Subject(s) - bioethics , skepticism , socratic method , ideology , medical ethics , environmental ethics , perspective (graphical) , applied ethics , sociology , epistemology , engineering ethics , law , political science , philosophy , politics , artificial intelligence , computer science , engineering
In this paper I argue that bioethics is in crisis and that it will not have a future unless it begins to embrace a more Socratic approach to its leading assumptions. The absence of a critical and sceptical spirit has resulted in little more than a dominant ideology. I focus on three key issues. First, that too often bioethics collapses into medical ethics. Second, that medical ethics itself is beset by a lack of self‐reflection that I characterize here as a commitment to three dogmas. Third, I offer a more positive perspective by suggesting how bioethics may benefit from looking towards public health ethics as a new source of inspiration and direction.