How philosophy and theology have undermined bioethics

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Philosophy of Religion
• Theology

Background:

• Bioethics currently lacks a robust normative framework.
• Existing philosophical and theological viewpoints struggle to integrate concepts like "sin".

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the treatment of "sin" within philosophical, theological, and religious contexts in bioethics.
• To evaluate the adequacy of these viewpoints in establishing a normative bioethical framework.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of philosophical, theological, and religious perspectives on "sin" within bioethics.
• Examination of the conceptual requirements for a normative framework, including free will and redemption.

Main Results:

• Philosophical and theological viewpoints are found to be intellectually deficient in addressing normative bioethical issues.
• These viewpoints fail to successfully integrate Christian concepts such as "sin" into bioethics.
• "Sin" is defined as pertaining to beings with free will, with Western Christianity emphasizing knowledge and voluntariness.

Conclusions:

• Bioethics requires concepts of free will, sin, and redemption for an adequate normative framework.
• The failure to translate Christian morality into secular terms leaves bioethics and general morality in a state of "morass".