Let the foxes run free: Arresting bioethics' inward turn

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Academic Disciplines
• Interdisciplinary Studies

Background:

• The field of bioethics faces calls to narrow its scope for greater objectivity and rigor.
• Some argue that a broad definition of bioethics compromises the profession's credibility.
• Existing proposals often focus on definitional narrowing, mirroring academic silos.

Purpose of the Study:

• To argue against the definitional narrowing of bioethics.
• To highlight the value of bioethics as a space for interdisciplinary scholarship.
• To assert that a broad scope is essential for bioethics' vitality and credibility.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of contemporary debates on bioethics' scope.
• Application of Isaiah Berlin's 'The Hedgehog and the Fox' metaphor.
• Critique of academic institutionalization and knowledge generation through atomization.

Main Results:

• Bioethics has historically thrived due to its distinct, interdisciplinary nature.
• Narrowing bioethics risks undermining its unique contribution to scholarship.
• The field's strength lies in its ability to integrate diverse perspectives.

Conclusions:

• Bioethics should maintain its broad scope to foster true interdisciplinary, multi-, and cross-disciplinary scholarship.
• Definitional narrowing threatens to erode one of bioethics' greatest assets.
• Preserving the breadth of bioethics is vital for its continued credibility and academic contribution.