Comments on: What’s Human Dignity Got to Do With Bioethics? http://scienceprogress.org/2008/04/whats-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/ Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:59:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rob http://scienceprogress.org/2008/04/whats-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/comment-page-1/#comment-7045 Rob Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:27:15 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/04/what%e2%80%99s-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/#comment-7045 Very nice review. It's not clear to me that this sort of thing is a legitimate use of public funds, as you point out. On the other hand, I don't really think that councils like NBAC are either, especially when they are stacked to include people all coming from a particular metaphysical persuasion, supposedly only doing "objective" work in "practical issues," when those practical issues are only issues because of the metaphysical questions that divide the nation. Perhaps it would be best if bioethics councils abandoned any pretense of being "objective" and took on more of an advisorial role, and let legitimate public actors use them primarily for education and analysis. Very nice review. It’s not clear to me that this sort of thing is a legitimate use of public funds, as you point out. On the other hand, I don’t really think that councils like NBAC are either, especially when they are stacked to include people all coming from a particular metaphysical persuasion, supposedly only doing “objective” work in “practical issues,” when those practical issues are only issues because of the metaphysical questions that divide the nation. Perhaps it would be best if bioethics councils abandoned any pretense of being “objective” and took on more of an advisorial role, and let legitimate public actors use them primarily for education and analysis.

]]> By: Sirine Shebaya http://scienceprogress.org/2008/04/whats-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/comment-page-1/#comment-1830 Sirine Shebaya Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:50:48 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/04/what%e2%80%99s-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/#comment-1830 I agree, that's a great quote. Tough to decide what to think about enhancement though... it's a very complicated issue. I agree, that’s a great quote. Tough to decide what to think about enhancement though… it’s a very complicated issue.

]]> By: Joshua http://scienceprogress.org/2008/04/whats-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/comment-page-1/#comment-1814 Joshua Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:36:07 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/04/what%e2%80%99s-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/#comment-1814 I thought Nick Bostrom's piece was very interesting. Especially the opening portion which reads: "Like some successful politicians, the idea of dignity has hit upon a winning formula by combining into one package gravitas, a general feel-good quality, and a profound vagueness that enables all constituencies to declare their allegiance without thereby endorsing any particular course of action." I thought Nick Bostrom’s piece was very interesting. Especially the opening portion which reads:

“Like some successful politicians, the idea of dignity has hit upon a winning formula by combining into one package gravitas, a general feel-good quality, and a profound vagueness that enables all constituencies to declare their allegiance without thereby endorsing any particular course of action.”

]]> By: Sirine Shebaya http://scienceprogress.org/2008/04/whats-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/comment-page-1/#comment-1794 Sirine Shebaya Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:55:30 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/04/what%e2%80%99s-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/#comment-1794 You are right, this might be an over-generalization in light of everything we are learning about advanced primates and other animals. Still, though other animals might have pre-theoretical moral sensibilities and the capacity to develop rationality, to the best of my knowledge it is still the case that the human species is the only one with fully developed and articulated rational and moral capacities. The difference between norm-governed reasoning and learned behavior is an important one - though I'm perfectly happy to acknowledge that some animals are much more sophisticated than we have so far given them credit for... You are right, this might be an over-generalization in light of everything we are learning about advanced primates and other animals. Still, though other animals might have pre-theoretical moral sensibilities and the capacity to develop rationality, to the best of my knowledge it is still the case that the human species is the only one with fully developed and articulated rational and moral capacities. The difference between norm-governed reasoning and learned behavior is an important one – though I’m perfectly happy to acknowledge that some animals are much more sophisticated than we have so far given them credit for…

]]> By: Linda MacDonald Glenn http://scienceprogress.org/2008/04/whats-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/comment-page-1/#comment-1793 Linda MacDonald Glenn Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:26:22 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/04/what%e2%80%99s-human-dignity-got-to-do-with-bioethics/#comment-1793 Very nice summary of the report. Although I don't agree with the statement that "Rationality and the capacity for morality, ... are obviously unique to human beings" -- the works of Jane Goodall and others have shown that other species have the capacity for rationality and morality -- I do agree with the rest of your assessment of the report. I keep hoping, but not necessarily expecting, that all parties continue to look for respectful discourse and commensurability. Very nice summary of the report. Although I don’t agree with the statement that “Rationality and the capacity for morality, … are obviously unique to human beings” — the works of Jane Goodall and others have shown that other species have the capacity for rationality and morality — I do agree with the rest of your assessment of the report. I keep hoping, but not necessarily expecting, that all parties continue to look for respectful discourse and commensurability.

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