Cross Cultural Perspectives on the Im Possibility of Global Bioethics

by Tao, Julia Lai Po-Wah; Po-Wah, Julia Tao Lai

• ISBN13: 9781402004988
• ISBN10: 1402004982
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-06-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

This collection of papers explores one of the central debates in the field of bioethics in the new century. It evaluates the controversy between the claim that there is a common morality accepted by all and the opposing view that there are different moral visions and moral rationalities, within which complex bioethical issues demand a solution. Contributions within this volume offer different approaches and perspectives on the pursuit of global ethics in the new century. They are organized under five major themes. The first theme explores the different plausible understandings of the foundations of bioethics and contemporary reflections on the nature and role of moral theory. The second theme analyses the impact of moral loss and moral diversity on the character of bioethics and the search for alternative perspectives in post-traditional and post-modern societies. The third theme examines a number of theoretical issues raised by concrete examples of bioethnological applications, which bear importantly on contemporary debates between the possibility and impossibility of global bioethics. The fourth theme discusses examples of moral conflicts and dilemmas in everyday health care practice regarding the permissible treatment of humans by humans under different ethical perspectives and cultural traditions. The fifth theme explores alternative suggestions for opening up new modes of self-understanding and new strategies for bioethical exploration in the new century. The volume is an important work of reference for philosophers, moral theologians, ethicists, counsellors, doctors, nurses, sociologists, journalists, health care professionals, public policy makers and everyone who is interested in the profound ethical issues arising from modern technological advancements which are not only transforming our lives but are also demanding urgent ethical decision-making and 'pragmatic' solutions from a cross-cultural perspective.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgements	ix
Global Bioethics, Global Dialogue: Introduction	1	(18)
Julia Tao Lai Po-Wah
Morality, Universality, and Particularity: Rethinking the Role of Community in the Foundations of Bioethics	19	(22)
H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr.
PART I / COMMUNITY AND CARE: LOST PERSPECTIVES?
Is Just Caring Possible`? Challenge to Bioethics in the New Century	41	(18)
Julia Tao Lai Po-Wah
Living and Dying in a Post-traditional World	59	(12)
Fr. Thomas Joseph
PART II / THE (IM)POSSIBILITY OF GLOBAL BIOETHICS
The Tension between Biomedical Technology and Confucian Values	71	(18)
Ren-Zong Qiu
On Relational Paradigm in Bioethics	89	(16)
Hu Xinhe
The Ethics of Prenatal Screening and the Search for Global Bioethics	105	(26)
Gerhold K. Becker
Genetic Engineering and Social Justice: Towards a Global Bioethics?	131	(18)
Ian Holliday
Global Biomedicine, Human Dignity, and the Moral Justification of Political Power	149	(30)
Corinna Delkeskamp-Hayes
The Reappraisal of the Foundations of Bioethics: A Confucian Perspective	179	(18)
Shui Chuen Lee
PART III/MORAL DILEMMAS IN HEALTH CARE
Self-ownership and Its Implications for Bioethics	197	(12)
Yu Kam Por
Health Inequalities and Justice	209	(14)
Sarah Marchand
Daniel Wikler
Managing Medical Information: The Moral Dilemmas in Postmodern Societies	223	(14)
Chan Ho Mun
Anthony Fung
Stabilizing or Changing Identity? The Ethical Problem of Sex Reassignment Surgery as a Conflict among the Individual, Community, and Society	237	(28)
Kurt W. Schmidt
Homosexuality and the Use of Reproductive Technology	265	(12)
Stephen Man-Hung Sze
The Domain of Parental Discretion in Treatment of Neonates: Beyond the Impasse between a Sanctity-of-Life and Quality-of-Life Ethic	277	(22)
George Khushf
Ethics and Narrative in Evidence-Based Medicine	299	(20)
Derrick K. S. Au
PART IV / NEW STRATEGIES, NEW POSSIBILITIES
Local Bioethical Discourse: Implications for Understanding Disease	319	(16)
Mary Ann G. Cutter
Bioethics and Philosophy of Bioethics: A New Orientation	335	(24)
Chung-Ying Cheng
A New Possibility of Global Bioethics as an Intercultural Social Tuning Technology	359	(10)
Hyakudai Sakamoto
Moral Theories vs. Moral Perspectives: The Need for a New Strategy for Bioethical Exploration	369	(22)
Ruiping Fan
Notes on Editor and Contributors	391	(2)
Index	393