Essential Reading for Bioethicists in the Anthropocene Era

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Environmental Ethics
• Philosophy

Background:

• The field of bioethics has historically focused narrowly on medicine and healthcare.
• Global heating presents complex emergencies requiring a broader ethical framework.
• Van Rensselaer Potter's comprehensive bioethics legacy offers a foundation for addressing these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for an expanded scope of bioethics to encompass environmental crises.
• To recommend key readings that bridge bioethics and environmental concerns.
• To identify philosophical resources for navigating the Anthropocene.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing and recommending seminal works in environmental ethics and bioethics.
• Analyzing the relevance of historical philosophical traditions (Stoicism, Buddhism) to contemporary environmental challenges.
• Synthesizing ethical frameworks for a changing planet.

Main Results:

• Specific texts are recommended to broaden bioethical literature to include environmental issues.
• Late Roman Stoicism and Buddhist texts offer valuable ethical wisdom for the Anthropocene.
• A comprehensive bioethics approach is crucial for addressing global heating.

Conclusions:

• Bioethicists must embrace a wider scope, integrating environmental concerns into the discipline.
• Philosophical traditions provide essential ethical tools for confronting climate-related crises.
• Expanding bioethics is vital for responsible stewardship in the Anthropocene.