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What must we mean by "community"? A processive account
1University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Division of Medical Humanities, Little Rock 72205, USA. hesterdm@uams.edu
Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics
|February 5, 2005
Summary
Bioethics benefits from viewing "community" as a dynamic process, emphasizing context and narrative. This approach prioritizes developing dialogue and understanding within clinical situations for better patient engagement.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Moral Philosophy
- Clinical Ethics
Background:
- Traditional bioethics defines "community" as a moral relationship or a context for rational agency.
- Existing definitions may limit the practical application of ethical concepts in complex clinical scenarios.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a "processive" language for understanding "selves" and "community" in bioethics.
- To advocate for a methodologically focused, contextual, and narrative approach to bioethical inquiry.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of the term "community" in ethics and bioethics.
- Advocacy for a shift towards process-oriented language in bioethical discourse.
- Emphasis on interactive processes of inquiry and dialogue in clinical practice.
Main Results:
- A processive view of community highlights its functional character and dynamic nature.
- This approach redirects bioethics towards developing methods for healthy dialogue and deeper understanding.
- It underscores the importance of contextualizing patient engagement beyond mere consent.
Conclusions:
- Bioethics is enhanced by adopting a processive understanding of community.
- This perspective necessitates focusing on interactive inquiry and supportive environments for patient participation.
- It calls for a move away from external "fixing" towards internal dialogue and contextual understanding in clinical ethics.