Arguments and Analysis in Bioethics. (Value Inquiry Book)

325 Pages·2009·2.34 MB·English

by  Matti Hayry

Arguments And AnAlysis
in Bioethics
VIBS
Volume 214
robert ginsberg
Founding Editor
leonidas donskis
Executive Editor
Associate Editors
g. John m. Abbarno Brian g. henning
george Allan steven V. hicks
gerhold K. Becker richard t. hull
raymond Angelo Belliotti michael Krausz
Kenneth A. Bryson olli loukola
c. stephen Byrum mark letteri
Robert A. Delfino Vincent l. luizzi
rem B. edwards Adrianne mcevoy
malcolm d. evans Peter A. redpath
daniel B. gallagher Arleen l. F. salles
roland Faber John r. shook
Andrew Fitz-gibbon eddy souffrant
Francesc Forn i Argimon tuija takala
William gay emil Višňovský
dane r. gordon Anne Waters
J. everet green James r. Watson
heta Aleksandra gylling John r. Welch
matti häyry thomas Woods
a volume in
Values in Bioethics
ViB
matti häyry and tuija takala, editors
Arguments And AnAlysis
in Bioethics

edited by
matti häyry, tuija takala,
Peter herissone-Kelly and gardar Árnason
Amsterdam - new york, ny 2010
Cover Photo: Morguefile.com
cover design: studio Pollmann
the paper on which this book is printed meets the requirements of “iso
9706:1994, information and documentation - Paper for documents -
requirements for permanence”.
isBn: 978-90-420-2802-9
e-Book isBn: 978-90-420-2803-6
© editions rodopi B.V., Amsterdam - new york, ny 2010
Printed in the netherlands
CONTENTS

Foreword by John Lizza xiii

Preface xv

Introduction Arguing About Arguments, Analyzing Analysis 1
MATTI HÄYRY, TUIJA TAKALA, GARDAR
ÁRNASON, AND PETER HERISSONE-KELLY
1. The Place of Arguments and Analysis in
Bioethics 1
2. Bioethical Skepticism 2
3. Bioethical Methods 2
4. Concepts and Distinctions 3
5. General Approaches, Particular Issues 4
6. Perspectives on Well-Being 5
7. Contested Concepts 6
8. Pressing Onward 7

ONE Global Bioethics and “Erroneous Reason”: Fallacies
Across the Borders 9
SIRKKU KRISTIINA HELLSTEN
1. Introduction 9
2. Opposites Attract: For and Against X 9
3. Polarization Between the West and the Rest 10
4. Descriptive versus Prescriptive Reasoning in
Bioethics 14
5. Rationalizing Hasty Generalizations 14
6. Life and Death in a Vacuum? Practical Context
in Global Biomedical Ethics 17
7. Conclusion 21

TWO Is Bioethics Only for the Rich and Powerful? 23
SØREN HOLM
1. Introduction 23
2. A General Analysis of Coercion 24
3. Can Poverty Coerce? 30
4. Serial Coercion and Extreme Poverty 31
5. What Follows from a Denial of the Coercive
Power of Poverty? 32
6. Can We Fall Back on Justice? 33
7. Is There any Hope for Bioethics? 35
vi Contents
THREE Do We Need (Bio)Ethical Principles? 37
SIMONA GIORDANO
1. Introduction 37
2. The Alleged Importance of (Bio)Ethical
Principles 38
3. Ethical Principles in Practice—The Case of
Cloning 38
4. Pronouncements Against Cloning 39
5. Abstract Principles Cannot Direct Practice 41
6. Philosophical Work is Marginalized 44
7. To Die for Ideas … 44
8. Conclusion 47

FOUR Bioethics and Stephen Toulmin’s Argumentation
Theory 51
DORIS SCHROEDER AND PETER HERISSONE-
KELLY
1. Argumentation Theory 51
2. The Case 52
3. Argumentation Theory—Toulmin’s Model 53
4. Applying Toulmin’s Model—Particulars 56
5. Applying Toulmin’s Model—Generics 58
6. Conclusion 60

FIVE The Use of Examples in Bioethics 63
HARRY LESSER
1. The Pedagogic Function of Examples 63
2. The Use of Counter-Examples 64
3. “What Would We Say If…” 69

SIX Moral Intuitions in Bioethics 73
HARRY LESSER
1. Introduction 73
2. Are Intuitions Superior to Theories? 74
3. The Problem 75
4. Tackling the Problem 77
5. Moral and Non-Moral Reactions 79
6. Conclusion 83
Contents vii
SEVEN Toward the “Fair Use” of Empirical Evidence in
Ethical Arguments: Vaccination, MMR and
Disagreement 85
ANGUS DAWSON
1. Introduction 85
2. Some Possible Principles for the “Fair Use” of
Evidence 87
3. The Use of Evidence: Vaccination Using MMR
Vaccine 90
4. Possible Objections to the Principles Approach 92
5. MMR and the Four Objections 94
6. Conclusion 95

EIGHT An Assessment of the Normal Function Model and
Implications for Enhancement 97
CATHLEEN SCHULTE
1. Introduction 97
2. Normative and Non-Normative Conceptions of
Health and Disease 98
3. Function 99
4. The Normal Function Model Applied to a Theory
of Just Healthcare 102
5. Framework Considerations 107
6. Implications for Enhancement 109
7. Conclusion 111

NINE On the Distinction Between Positive and Negative
Eugenics 115
STEPHEN WILKINSON
1. Positive and Negative Eugenics 115
2. The Disease Account and the Normality Account 117
3. The Enhancement-Therapy Distinction 118
4. Enhancement, Disease, and Normality 120
5. Enhancement and Positive Eugenics 121
6. Moral Significance on the Disease Account 123
7. Moral Significance on the Normality Account 124
8. Conclusion 126

TEN Genetic Fallacy and Some Other Concerns in
Behavioral Genetics 129
NIALL W. R. SCOTT
1. Introduction 129
2. What a Genetic Fallacy is 130
viii Contents
3. The Fallacy in Terms of Causation 131
4. Determinism in Behavioral Genetics 132
5. The Implications of the Genetic Fallacy for
Behavioral Genetics 133
6. Considerations of the UK Nuffield Council’s
Report on Genetics and Behavior 136

ELEVEN Eugenics: Enhancing Individuals or Populations? 141
NIALL W. R. SCOTT
1. Introduction 141
2. Questioning the Positive-Negative Distinction 141
3. Two Cases 142
4. Health Goals and Social Goals 145
5. Flourishing: “Never Call a Man Successful Until
His Life is Over. Only the Grave is Security
Against Misfortune.” 147
6. Closing Remarks 150

TWELVE Harm, Law and Reproductive Cloning 153
ANNA SMAJDOR
1. Introduction 153
2. What is the Harm of Reproductive Cloning? 154
3. Risks to Cloned Children 155
4. Unknown Unknowns 156
5. Experiments on Human Beings 157
6. Identity Problems 157
7. Psychological Burdens to the Child 159
8. How Much Harm? 160
9. Comparing Existence with Non-Existence 162
10. Conclusion 164

THIRTEEN An Analysis of Some Arguments for and against
Human Reproduction 167
MATTI HÄYRY
1. Background 167
2. The Irrationality of Having Children 167
3. The Immorality of Having Children 171
4. Summary and Conclusions 174

FOURTEEN Does the Baby Selling Objection to Commercial
Surrogacy Misuse Immanuel Kant? 177
STUART OULTRAM
1. Introduction 177
Contents ix
2. What is the Baby-Selling Objection to Commer-
cial Surrogacy? 177
3. How does the Baby-Selling Objection to
Commercial Surrogacy Misuse Kant? 179
4. Conclusion 183

FIFTEEN Prozac, Authenticity, and the Aristotelian Mean 185
JOHN MCMILLAN
1. Introduction 185
2. Tess 186
3. Prozac and Personal Identity 188
4. Authenticity and the Aristotelian Mean 190
5. Problems with Authenticity 194

SIXTEEN The Case of Self-Demand Amputees: A Dilemma for
Professional Ethics? 197
FLORIS TOMASINI
1. Introduction 197
2. A Strong Kantian Justification against Amputa-
tion on Demand and its Partial Refutation 198
3. A Medium-Strong Utilitarian Justification for
Amputation on Demand and its Partial Refuta-
tion 203
4. Reprise 210
5. Recognition Without Ethical Justification? 211

SEVENTEEN Enzyme Replacement Therapy and the Rule of Rescue 217
MARK SHEEHAN
1. Enzyme Replacement Therapies 217
2. The Rule of Rescue 218
3. The Status of the Rule of Rescue 219
4. Moral Arguments Surrounding the Rule of
Rescue 220
5. Agent-Neutral and Agent-Relative Obligations 221
6. Problems with the Rule of Rescue: (1) Identifi-
ability 223
7. Problems with the Rule of Rescue: (2) The
Obligations of Policy Makers 224
8. Conclusions 226

EIGHTEEN Is “Therapeutic Research” a Misnomer? 229
PETER LUCAS
1. Introduction 229