Medicine, Metaphysics and Morals Essays - 2986 Words

Medicine, Metaphysics and Morals ABSTRACT: Moral decisions concerning what ought to be done always assume metaphysical presuppositions concerning the way the world is. In the field of biomedical ethics, some of the metaphysical presuppositions underlying many current discussions of issues of life and death seem particularly implausible. These include our assumption of the reality of social atomism and our beliefs relating to the possibility of autonomy. Given the implausibility of these two assumptions, many discussions have focused our attention on the wrong issues by reducing questions of alternative social practices to questions of individual preferences. Far from facilitating intelligent solutions to our problems, this merely clouds†¦show more content†¦However, the refusal to state metaphysical presuppositions cannot justify the conclusion that no such presuppositions are involved in a discussion. Indeed the situation of the ethicist with regard to metaphysical presuppositions seems roughly analogous t o the situation of the biologist as regards the concept of teleology. Von Brueck is alleged to have remarked, Teleology is a lady without whom no biologist can live, yet he is ashamed to show himself in public with her. (1) Analogously one might maintain Metaphysics is a person without whom no ethicist can reach conclusions, yet he or she is ashamed to be seen in public with that person. Regretably the ethicist’s reluctance to admit her relationship to metaphysical presuppositions precludes the consideration of the plausibility of the ethicists conclusions. Since these conclusions may have considerable social impact this tendency to operate from hidden assumptions is unfortunate to say the least. In what follows I propose to examine the metaphysical presuppositions to be found in some common arguments in the field of biomedical ethics and to raise the question of just how plausible these assertions may be. Should it appear that their plausibility is open to serious questionin g this might suggest that we may be a bit too hasty in our ready acceptance of some of the more popular conclusions in the field. The presuppositions involved are two in number, the first involving the relationship of theShow MoreRelatedAristotle, The Man Of Thinking1025 Words   |  5 Pagesinstitute was known as the Platonic Academy, he studied there for nearly 20 years. This institute is where it all begin. Aristotle’s father was a physician. This sparked an interest in Aristotle at an early age for science. His interest was not in medicine but other fields of study. There is not much information about the early life of Aristotle. 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