Meta Medical Ethics : Philosophical Foundations of Bioethics

What is bioethics? What are its goals and theoretical assumptions? Is it a unique discipline? Must medical ethics be grounded in clinical experience?

How can ethical inquiry inform medicine's theory and practice?

Must one have a definition of medicine before one can have a medical ethic?

Does medicine have a unique or demarcating body of knowledge, methodology, or philosophy?

These questions are addressed by a distinguished roster of philosophers, theologians, lawyers, social scientists, physicians and scientists.

The unifying theme of this text is a philosophical exploration of the history, nature, scope and foundations of bioethics.

There is a critical evaluation of principled, communitarian, legal, narrative and feminist approaches.

The book's interdisciplinary focus allows for a lively dialogue which includes papers and accompanying commentaries.

It should be of interest to philosophers of science and medical ethicists, physicians, lawyers and policy makers.