Human Nature and Moral Status in Bioethics

Shea, Matthew

doi:10.1093/jmp/jhx039

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…For example, ethicists commonly ascribe a lower moral status to living beings that are not or to a lesser degree conscious, sentient, autonomous, or self-aware. In this vein, most animals enjoy a higher moral status than most plants [ 16 ], and although this is contested [ 13 , 17 ], membership of the human species grounds a higher moral status, other things being equal [ 18 , 19 ]. On this view, using genetic technologies on humans is generally considered as ethically less permissible than using them on non-human living beings like animals, plants, fungi, or bacteria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genetic technologies questionnaire: lay judgments about genetic technologies align with ethical theory, are coherent, and predict behaviour

2022

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Background Policy regulations of ethically controversial genetic technologies should, on the one hand, be based on ethical principles. On the other hand, they should be socially acceptable to ensure implementation. In addition, they should align with ethical theory. Yet to date we lack a reliable and valid scale to measure the relevant ethical judgements in laypeople. We target this lacuna. Methods We developed a scale based on ethical principles to elicit lay judgments: the Genetic Technologies Questionnaire (GTQ). In two pilot studies and a pre-registered main study, we validated the scale in a representative sample of the US population. Results The final version of the scale contains 20 items but remains highly reliable even when reduced to five. It also predicts behaviour; for example, ethical judgments as measured by the GTQ predicted hypothetical donations and grocery shopping. In addition, the GTQ may be of interest to policymakers and ethicists because it reveals coherent and ethically justified judgments in laypeople. For instance, the GTQ indicates that ethical judgments are sensitive to possible benefits and harms (in line with utilitarian ethics), but also to ethical principles such as the value of consent-autonomy. Conclusions The GTQ can be recommended for research in both experimental psychology and applied ethics, as well as a tool for ethically and empirically informed policymaking.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genetic technologies questionnaire: lay judgments about genetic technologies align with ethical theory, are coherent, and predict behaviour

2022

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Ontological Classifications and Human Rationality in Bioethics

Romanyshyn

2019

The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy: A Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy of Medicine

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Metaphysics often has an important role in deciding ethical questions. Specifically, in the realm of bioethics, metaphysical questions such as the nature of persons, diseases, and properties in general can be crucial to determining what is right or wrong. In this article, I tie together various metaphysical themes that recur throughout the rest of the issue: rationality as an element of human nature, ontological classifications, and kinds of action. I will explain that each has ethical implications. Actions that contravene reason will be morally problematic, whereas our classification of illnesses will have important implications for how we ought to respond to ill persons. Metaphysical questions appear, or are at least suggested, in each article, pointing to the need for metaphysics in answering bioethical questions.

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Human Nature and Moral Status in Bioethics

Cited by 2 publications

References 16 publications

The genetic technologies questionnaire: lay judgments about genetic technologies align with ethical theory, are coherent, and predict behaviour

The genetic technologies questionnaire: lay judgments about genetic technologies align with ethical theory, are coherent, and predict behaviour

Ontological Classifications and Human Rationality in Bioethics

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