Contributors to this issue

Frances Bower
Pauline Everest
Donald E. Kalsched
Jean Knox
Joseph Redfearn
Joy Schaverien
Robert A. Segal
Sonu Shamdasani
Anthony Storr     

Christian Ethics,Religious Ethics,and Secular Ethics: A Contemporary Reappraisal

In this essay, I argue that Christian ethicists should not think of themselves as religious ethicists. I defend this claim by arguing that the concept of religious ethics, as it has come to be understood as a discipline that is distinct from secular ethics, is incoherent. In part one, I describe the fraught attempts by theologians in the 20th century to identify the distinctiveness of Christian ethics. In part two, I argue that certain accounts of natural law unwittingly reinforce a problematic conception of secular ethics. Part three examines some trends in religious studies and comparative religious ethics to highlight problematic conceptions of religion. Drawing together these strands of inquiry, I contend that that the secular-religious dichotomy in contemporary ethics should be rejected, but by the same token, I suggest that comparative ethics remains a worthwhile enterprise.     

Questions of condom use in the Muslim and Catholic response to HIV and AIDS in Nairobi,Kenya

Religious leaders in Roman Catholic and Sunni Muslim communities in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi are charged with responding in an official capacity to the pressing concerns facing their respective communities both theologically and practically. However, speaking about sexuality from a religious perspective particularly on the use of condoms in AIDS prevention has been rather troublesome topic many leaders and clergy find problematic discussing openly. This paper offers a comparative analysis of Muslim and Catholic views on sexuality by establishing the parameters within which to consider the presence and activity of Catholic and Muslim leaders in Kenya and the holistic, grassroots approach in responding to the AIDS epidemic in Nairobi regarding condom use.     

“公共卫生”的定义分析及其伦理内涵

在新冠疫情肆虐全球,人类面对的疾病威胁日趋严重的背景之下,为应对由此产生的一系列问题,对公共卫生伦理学的探讨变得愈加必要。但如何定义“公共卫生”尚存在较多争议。旨在阐述对“公共卫生”的宽泛定义及意义,并对宽泛定义“公共卫生”所招致的三种主要批判进行分析与回应,进一步挖掘其伦理内涵与现实意义。同时也提出了对“公共卫生”持宽泛界定时值得注意并需要在未来努力解决的问题,为后疫情时代的公共治理提供有益参考。

     

我国医科类高校医学(生命)伦理学课程现状调查

为了解我国部分医科类高校医学(生命)伦理学课程的开展现状,对国内48所高校中68名从事医学(生命)伦理学教学工作的教师进行问卷调查。结果显示,23所高校教师人数超过4人;女性教师中学历为硕士的人数最多;32.4%的教师第一专业具备临床或医药背景;学时为32学时~36学时的高校仅1所,学分为2学分的高校也只有1所,以必修课形式开设的高校只有2所;28所高校开设了医学(生命)伦理学相关的讲座,其中2所高校年均开设次数达到5次或以上。调查显示,高校整体师资力量较薄弱、女性教师学历水平有待提高、教师知识结构较单一、课程受重视程度低、医学人文环境较差。建议扩大、优化师资结构,重树学科定位,加强医学人文建设,营造医学人文氛围。     

医学人工智能应用若干问题的哲学思考

人工智能在医学领域应用已触及众多方向,从医学影像、病理诊断、精神卫生,到康复医疗、居家健康支持等都有所进展,也引发了广泛的哲学及伦理思考。在医学哲学视角下,探讨人工智能机器道德主体地位争议、机器使用所产生的多重关系的界定,以及人工智能技术价值判断及信任考量、数据获得性及隐私保护现状。进一步指出在充满不确定性的应用场景下,人工智能可能引起的不公平、歧视与风险责任,呼吁建立与技术深度融合的人工智能伦理审查和协同治理机制。     

医学伦理学与生命伦理学关系类型辨析——基于国内外文献的考察

医学伦理学与生命伦理学的关系在逻辑上有包容论、互异论和交叉论（延续论）三种可能的类型。包容论认为,后者关注范围更广,前者作为一个部分包括在生命伦理学当中。互异论主张,两个概念在跨学科特点方面不同,生命伦理学必须通过跨学科协作,以公共性为导向,而医学伦理学较为单一,以职业性为目标。交叉论（延续论）强调,医学伦理学经历了古代医德学,近现代医学伦理学和生命伦理学。包容论与互异论过于强调二者的相同或区别,割裂了二者内在联系,片面性显而易见。交叉论（延续论）看到了二者内在逻辑,反映了本体属性,是更为合理的评价。     

Negotiating Religious Differences: The Strategies of Interfaith Chaplains in Healthcare

Chaplains in healthcare increasingly work in interfaith roles with patients and families from a range of religious and spiritual backgrounds. Some move with ease between their own religious backgrounds and those of the individuals with whom they work. Others encounter tensions as their status as a person of faith comes into conflict with their status as an interfaith chaplain. We explore the two main strategies—neutralizing and code‐switching—chaplains at one large academic medical center use when working with patients and families whose religious and spiritual backgrounds are different from their own. Through training in clinical pastoral education and experiences on the job, chaplains learn to neutralize (use a broad language of spirituality that emphasizes commonalities rather than differences) and to code‐switch (use the languages, rituals, and practices of the people with whom they work). To the extent that the strategies evident here are present among chaplains in a broader range of institutional settings, they suggest a kind of spiritual secularism or broad approach to meaning makings that may be facilitated by interfaith chaplains in a range of settings.     

An appreciative response to Niels Henrik Gregersen's JKR research conference lecture

Abstract

Using human embryos in research remains a controversial issue, especially in Christian bioethics. Although the official Catholic stance rejects human embryonic stem cell research, Christian thinkers T. Peters, K. Lebacqz and G. Bennett support it. They endorse the 14-day Rule and argue that ex vivo embryos lack moral worth. I examine and challenge the 14-day Rule and location argument (in vivo/ex vivo). I develop a theory of holistic anthropology and intrinsic moral value for human embryos. I conclude that intrinsic moral value is not equal to full moral value, and therefore use of embryos in biomedical research is morally permissible.     

Thirty Years Later: An Oncologist Reflects on Kubler-Ross's Work

As compared with conventional vaccine production systems, plant-made vaccines (PMVs) are said to enjoy a range of advantages including cost of production and ease of storage for distribution in developing countries. In this article, we introduce the science of PMV production, and address ethical issues associated with development and clinical testing of PMVs within three interrelated domains: PMVs as transgenic plants; PMVs as clinical research materials; and PMVs as agents of global health. We present three conclusions: first, while many of the ethical issues raised by PMVs are familiar, PMVs add a new dimension to old issues, and raise some novel issues for ethicists and policy-makers; secondly, it is premature to promise broad applicability of PMVs across the developing world without having demonstrated their feasibility; thirdly, in particular, proponents of PMVs as a solution to global health problems must, as a condition of the ethical conduct of their research, define the commercial feasibility of PMVs for distribution in the developing world.