The internal morality of medicine: an evolutionary perspective

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Philosophy of Medicine
• Evolutionary Ethics

Background:

• Medical ethics debates whether norms derive from general morality or are specific to medicine.
• The concept of an 'internal morality of medicine' suggests unique ethical duties within the profession.
• Existing internal morality theories face critiques regarding their essentialist or foundational claims.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and defend an evolutionary perspective on the internal morality of medicine.
• To define this perspective based on the goals and duties inherent in clinical practice.
• To critically analyze prominent internal morality conceptions and critiques.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of medical ethics.
• Development of an evolutionary framework for medical norms.
• Critical examination of Edmund Pellegrino's essentialist view.
• Engagement with critiques by Robert Veatch and Tom Beauchamp.

Main Results:

• An evolutionary perspective offers a robust account of the internal morality of medicine.
• This perspective links medical duties directly to the fundamental goals of clinical practice.
• The proposed framework addresses limitations of essentialist and purely externalist ethical approaches.

Conclusions:

• The internal morality of medicine is best understood through an evolutionary lens tied to clinical goals.
• This approach provides a dynamic and justifiable foundation for medical ethical duties.
• Further development of this perspective can inform contemporary medical ethics discourse.