Uncertain Bioethics
Moral Risk and Human Dignity
Author(s)
Napier, Stephen
Collection
Knowledge Unlatched (KU)Language
EnglishAbstract
Uncertain Bioethics makes a significant and distinctive contribution to the bioethics literature by culling the insights from contemporary moral psychology to highlight the epistemic pitfalls and distorting influences on our apprehension of value. Stephen Napier also incorporates research from epistemology addressing pragmatic encroachment and the significance of peer disagreement to justify what he refers to as epistemic diffidence when one is considering harming or killing human beings. Napier extends these developments to the traditional bioethical notion of dignity and argues that beliefs subject to epistemic diffidence should not be acted upon. He proceeds to apply this framework to traditional and developing issues in bioethics including abortion, stem cell research, euthanasia, decision-making for patients in a minimally conscious state, and risky research on competent human subjects.
Keywords
PhilosophyDOI
10.4324/9781351244510ISBN
9781351244503, 9781351244510, 9780815372981, 9781032090993OCN
1135852158Publisher
Taylor & FrancisPublisher website
https://taylorandfrancis.com/Publication date and place
2019Imprint
RoutledgeSeries
Routledge Annals of Bioethics,Classification
Bioethics