A meta-science for a global bioethics and biomedicine
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RESEARCH
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A meta-science for a global bioethics and biomedicine David S. Basser
Abstract Background: As suggested by Shook and Giordano, understanding and therefore addressing the urgent international governance issues around globalizing bio-medical/technology research and applications is limited by the perception of the underlying science. Methods: A philosophical methodology is used, based on novel and classical philosophical reflection upon existent literature, clinical wisdoms and narrative theory to discover a meta-science and telos of humankind for the development of a relevant and defendable global biomedical bioethics. Results: In this article, through pondering an integrative systems approach, I propose a biomedical model that may provide Western biomedicine with leadership and interesting insight into the unity beyond the artificial boundaries of its traditional divisions and the limit between physiological and pathological situations (health and disease). A unified biomedicine, as scientific foundation, might then provide the basis for dissolution of similar reflected boundaries within bioethics. A principled and communitarian cosmopolitan bioethics may then be synonymous with a recently proposed principled and communitarian cosmopolitan neuroethics based on a novel objective meta-ethics. In an attempt to help facilitate equal and inclusive participation in inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinary intercultural discourse regarding the aforementioned international governance issues, I offer: (1) a meta-science derived through considering the general behaviour of activity, plasticity and balance in biology and; (2) a novel thought framework to encourage and enhance the ability for self-evaluation, self-criticism, and self-revision aimed at broadening perspective, as well as acknowledging and responding to the strengths and limitations of extant knowledge. Conclusions: Through classical philosophical reflection, I evolve a theory of medicine to discover a telos of humankind which in turn provides an ‘internal’ moral grounding for a proposed global biomedical bioethics. Keywords: Communitarian cosmopolitan, Digital biomedicine, Discernment continuum, Global bioethics, Global biomedicine, Global systemic shift, Integrative biomedicine, Meta-science, Neuroethics, Telos of humankind
Background In answer to the calls for a global neuroethics relevant to upgrading international policies and laws dealing with brain research and the uses of novel neurotechnologies, Shook and Giordano, [1] and Lanzilao et al. [2] proposed a principled and cosmopolitan neuroethics based on a novel objective meta-ethics. Inspired by and aligning with Beauchamp and Childress’ model of Principalism [3] they began with the four principles beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice. In their Correspondence: [email protected] Philosophy, School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
model beneficence evolves into empowerment, “so as to advance the capability of people to indepen
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