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A Study on Bio-Ethics in University Education

  • Journal of the Korea Bioethics Association
  • 2009, 10(2), pp.13-24
  • Publisher : The Korean Bioethics Association
  • Research Area : Interdisciplinary Studies > Interdisciplinary Research

Moon, Si Young 1

1남서울대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to propose a moral view for bio-ethics in the field of university education. In field of university education of bio-ethics, there are some tendency to lecture guiding con or pro selections for socially and morally concerned issues. But, it is merely interesting centered approach to ethical problems of bio-technology and contemporary medical issues. Especially, this study focused on virtue-ethics or community oriented ethics which follows Christian ethicist Stanley Hauerwas. Of course, this paper is not a theological introducing for Hauerwas but an applied understanding from his theology for better understanding of bio-ethics in university’s education. This paper proposes three elements to understand the essential tasks of bio-medical as follows; (1) Recognizing of bio-medical issues as a human character connected problems. According to S. Hauerwas, the core of morality is not act (duty) but agent (character) This means that morality is from one’s moral character, that is, virtue. In this meaning, the most important element of bio-ethics education is human personality. (2) Enhancement of responsibility in technological era. The core value in age of technology is responsibility. In this context, H. Jonas’ philosophical view of responsibility in technological age, W. Schweiker’s theological perspective of responsibility in Christian ethics would deepen university education for bio-ethics. (3) Wholistic understanding of life and death. Bio-medical ethics in university education must understand the value of life as a whole including problem of death. Reverence for life is not simply health and cure concern. And death is not a simple concept which ends the life. Now, bio-ethics in university education must pursue the wholistic view.

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