Reproductive medicine and human embryo research: rethinking risk through the lens of Aristotle's phronesis

In the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and human embryo research, clinicians and scientists regularly face decisions that blend scientific uncertainty with profound ethical complexity. As innovation accelerates in these fast-moving fields, ethical navigation can be challenging. Guidelines, regulations and protocols generally provide structure, yet often fall short of offering sufficient moral clarity. In this complex and evolving landscape, we propose that Aristotle's famous concept of phronesis - practical wisdom, i.e. the ability to make morally sound decisions in complex, real-life situations by balancing knowledge, experience and ethical judgement - can offer an essential tool for navigating choices in ART and/or human embryo research where evidence, ethics and lived human experiences intersect.