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Uncovering Metaethical Assumptions in Bioethical Discourse across Cultures.
- Source :
-
Kennedy Institute of Ethics journal [Kennedy Inst Ethics J] 2016 Mar; Vol. 26 (1), pp. 47-78. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Much of bioethical discourse now takes place across cultures. This does not mean that cross-cultural understanding has increased. Many cross-cultural bioethical discussions are marked by entrenched disagreement about whether and why local practices are justified. In this paper, I argue that a major reason for these entrenched disagreements is that problematic metaethical commitments are hidden in these cross-cultural discourses. Using the issue of informed consent in East Asia as an example of one such discourse, I analyze two representative positions in the discussion and identify their metaethical commitments. I suggest that the metaethical assumptions of these positions result from their shared method of ethical justification: moral principlism. I then show why moral principlism is problematic in cross-cultural analyses and propose a more useful method for pursuing ethical justification across cultures.
- Subjects :
- Asia
China
Decision Making ethics
Ethical Theory
Humans
Japan
Moral Obligations
Western World
Bioethics
Confucianism
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Cultural Characteristics
Family
Informed Consent ethics
Informed Consent psychology
Informed Consent standards
Personal Autonomy
Principle-Based Ethics
Social Values
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1054-6863
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Kennedy Institute of Ethics journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27157111
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1353/ken.2016.0003