Bioethics and the demise of the concept of human dignity: Has medicine killed ethics?

Journal article


Kirchhoffer, David. (2011). Bioethics and the demise of the concept of human dignity: Has medicine killed ethics? Human reproduction and genetic ethics. 17(2), pp. 141 - 154. https://doi.org/10.1558/hrge.v17i2.141
AuthorsKirchhoffer, David
Abstract

The rise of “dignity talk” has led to the concept of human dignity being criticized in recent years. Some critics argue that human dignity must either be something we have or something we acquire. Others argue that there is no such thing as human dignity and people really mean something else when they appeal to it. Both “dignity talk” and the criticisms arise from a problematic conception of medical ethics as a legalistic, procedural techne. A retrieval of hermeneutical ethics, by contrast, offers a way to overcome both the legalism of contemporary ethics and the abuses and criticisms of the concept of human dignity. Such an ethics affirms both the inherent dignity of a human being as a multi-dimensional, meaning-seeking, historically-situated, relational individual, who desires to live a good life, and the realized sense of his/her own dignity toward which s/he works. As such, human dignity cannot be reduced to one feature of the human, and instead functions as both a descriptive category that avoids moralism, and as a normative category that allows relativity whilst avoiding relativism.

Keywordsbioethics; hermeneutical ethics; human dignity
Year2011
JournalHuman reproduction and genetic ethics
Journal citation17 (2), pp. 141 - 154
PublisherTaylor & Francis
ISSN1028-7825
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1558/hrge.v17i2.141
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84877131103
Open accessOpen access
Page range141 - 154
Research GroupSchool of Theology
Author's accepted manuscript
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8v53w/bioethics-and-the-demise-of-the-concept-of-human-dignity-has-medicine-killed-ethics

Download files

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 105
    total views
  • 1102
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Moral uncertainty and distress about voluntary assisted dying prior to legalisation and the implications for post-legalisation practice : A qualitative study of palliative and hospice care providers in Queensland, Australia
Kirchhoffer, D., Lui, C. and Ho, Anita. (2023). Moral uncertainty and distress about voluntary assisted dying prior to legalisation and the implications for post-legalisation practice : A qualitative study of palliative and hospice care providers in Queensland, Australia. BMJ Open. 13(5), pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065964
Dignity, conscience and religious pluralism in healthcare : An argument for a presumption in favour of respect for religious belief
Kirchhoffer, David G.. (2023). Dignity, conscience and religious pluralism in healthcare : An argument for a presumption in favour of respect for religious belief. Bioethics. 37(1), pp. 88-97. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13110
Non-invasive prenatal testing : Clinical utility and ethical concerns about recent advances
Thomas, Joseph, Harraway, James and Kirchhoffer, David. (2021). Non-invasive prenatal testing : Clinical utility and ethical concerns about recent advances. Medical Journal of Australia. 214(4), pp. 168-170. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50928
Public reasoning about voluntary assisted dying : An analysis of submissions to the Queensland Parliament, Australia
Kirchhoffer, David G. and Lui, Chi-Wai. (2021). Public reasoning about voluntary assisted dying : An analysis of submissions to the Queensland Parliament, Australia. Bioethics. 35(1), pp. 105-116. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12777
Dignity, autonomy, and allocation of scarce medical resources during COVID-19
Kirchhoffer, David G.. (2020). Dignity, autonomy, and allocation of scarce medical resources during COVID-19. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 17, pp. 691-696. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-020-09998-3
Introduction : The limits of respect for autonomy
Kirchhoffer, David G.. (2019). Introduction : The limits of respect for autonomy. In In Kirchhoffer, David G. and Richards, Bernadette J. (Ed.). Beyond autonomy : Limits and alternatives to informed consent in research ethics and law pp. 1-14 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108649247.001
Dignity, being and becoming in research ethics
Kirchhoffer, David G.. (2019). Dignity, being and becoming in research ethics. In In Kirchhoffer, David G. and Richards, Bernadette J. (Ed.). Beyond autonomy : Limits and alternatives to informed consent in research ethics and law pp. 117-132 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108649247.008
Beneficence in research ethics
Kirchhoffer, David G., Favor, Christi D. and Cordner, Christopher D.. (2019). Beneficence in research ethics. In In Kirchhoffer, David G. and Richards, Bernadette J. (Ed.). Beyond autonomy : Limits and alternatives to informed consent in research ethics and law pp. 96-116 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108649247.007
How ecology can save the life of theology: A philosophical contribution to the engagement of ecology and theology
Kirchhoffer, David. (2018). How ecology can save the life of theology: A philosophical contribution to the engagement of ecology and theology. In In C. Deane-Drummond and R. Artinian-Kaiser (Ed.). Theology and ecology across the disciplines: On care for our common home pp. 53 - 64 T&T Clark.
Human dignity and human enhancement: A multidimensional approach
Kirchhoffer, David. (2017). Human dignity and human enhancement: A multidimensional approach. Bioethics. 31(5), pp. 375 - 383. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12343
Questioning human dignity: The dimensions of dignity model as a bridge between cosmopolitanism and the particular
Kirchhoffer, David. (2016). Questioning human dignity: The dimensions of dignity model as a bridge between cosmopolitanism and the particular. In In J. T. Ozolins (Ed.). Religion and Culture in Dialogue: East and West Perspectives pp. 167 - 179 Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25724-2_11
The Roman Catholic church on the secularization of the concept of human dignity
Kirchhoffer, David. (2016). The Roman Catholic church on the secularization of the concept of human dignity. Louvain Studies. 39(3), pp. 240 - 260. https://doi.org/10.2143/LS.39.3.3170048
Personhood and human dignity
Kirchhoffer, David, Ozoliņš, Jãnis T. and Grainger, Joanne. (2015). Personhood and human dignity. In In J. T. Ozoliņš and J. Grainger (Ed.). Foundations of Healthcare Ethics: Theory to Practice pp. 51 - 69 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107589834.004
Preparing for the Synod on the family: The Australian response
Kirchhoffer, David and L'Huillier, Natalie Lindner. (2014). Preparing for the Synod on the family: The Australian response. INTAMS Review: journal for the study of marriage and spirituality. 20(1), pp. 111 - 117. https://doi.org/10.2143/INT.20.1.3036703
Turtles all the way down? Pressing questions for theological anthropology in the twenty-first century
Kirchhoffer, David. (2014). Turtles all the way down? Pressing questions for theological anthropology in the twenty-first century. In In L. Boeve, Y. de Maeseneer and E. van Stichel (Ed.). Questioning the Human: Toward a Theological Anthropology for the Twenty-First Century pp. 183 - 193 Fordham University Press.
Reading the signs of the times: The challenges facing theological anthropology today
Kirchhoffer, David. (2013). Reading the signs of the times: The challenges facing theological anthropology today. In In D. G. Kirchhoffer, R. Horner and P. McCardle (Ed.). Being human: groundwork for a theological anthropology for the 21st century pp. 19 - 32 Mosaic Press.
What we have learned : Catholic social thought and the movements in Australia
Kirchhoffer, David. (2013). What we have learned : Catholic social thought and the movements in Australia. Journal of Catholic Social Thought. 10(2), pp. 401-411. https://doi.org/10.5840/jcathsoc201310223
Human dignity in contemporary ethics
Kirchhoffer, David. (2013). Human dignity in contemporary ethics Teneo Press.
Menschenwurde und biobanken
Kirchhoffer, David and Dierickx, Kris. (2013). Menschenwurde und biobanken. In In J. C. Joerden, E. Hilgendorf and F. Thiele (Ed.). Menschenwurde und Medizin: Ein interdisziplinares Handbuch pp. 935 - 948 Duncker & Humblot.
The concept of human dignity in tertiary campus ministry: More than hot air
Kirchhoffer, David. (2013). The concept of human dignity in tertiary campus ministry: More than hot air. Journal of the Tertiary Campus Ministry Association. 5(1), pp. 15 - 24.
Between revelation and reason: Human dignity in Karl Barth and Gaudium et Spes
Kirchhoffer, David. (2013). Between revelation and reason: Human dignity in Karl Barth and Gaudium et Spes. In In D. G. Kirchhoffer, R. Horner and P. McCardle (Ed.). Being human: groundwork for a theological anthropology for the 21st century pp. 69 - 84 Mosaic Press.
Human dignity and biobanks
Dierickx, Kris and Kirchhoffer, David. (2012). Human dignity and biobanks. In Annual Review of Law and Ethics pp. 247 - 258 Duncker & Humblot.
Human dignity and consent in research biobanking
Kirchhoffer, David and Dierickx, Kris. (2012). Human dignity and consent in research biobanking. South African Journal of Bioethics and Law. 5(2), pp. 74 - 77. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.237
Human dignity and the moral status of animals
Kirchhoffer, David. (2012). Human dignity and the moral status of animals. Southern African Public Law. 27(1), pp. 119 - 135.
New medical technologies and the ethical challenges for minors from the perspective of human dignity
Kirchhoffer, David and Dierickx, Kris. (2011). New medical technologies and the ethical challenges for minors from the perspective of human dignity. In In J. C. Joerden, E. Hilgendorf and N. Petrillo (Ed.). Menschenw├╝rde und moderne Medizintechnik pp. 375 - 392 Nomos.
Human dignity and human tissue: A meaningful ethical relationship?
Kirchhoffer, David and Dierickx, Kris. (2011). Human dignity and human tissue: A meaningful ethical relationship? Journal of Medical Ethics. 37(9), pp. 552 - 556. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.2010.041509
Benedict XVI, human dignity and absolute moral norms
Kirchhoffer, David. (2010). Benedict XVI, human dignity and absolute moral norms. New Blackfriars. 91(1035), pp. 586 - 608. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-2005.2009.01314.x
Become what you are: On the value of the concept of human dignity as an ethical criterion in light of contemporary critiques
Kirchhoffer, David. (2009). Become what you are: On the value of the concept of human dignity as an ethical criterion in light of contemporary critiques. International Journal of Philosophy and Theology. 70(1), pp. 45 - 66. https://doi.org/10.2143/BIJ.70.1.2035293
Pope Benedict XVI on the dignity of the human person: A blessing or a curse for the European project?
Kirchhoffer, David. (2007). Pope Benedict XVI on the dignity of the human person: A blessing or a curse for the European project? ET bulletin. 18(1 & 2), pp. 155 - 169.
Sacrament and being: On overcoming ontotheology in sacramental theology
Kirchhoffer, David. (2007). Sacrament and being: On overcoming ontotheology in sacramental theology. Questions Liturgiques: Studies on liturgy. 88(2), pp. 143 - 156. https://doi.org/10.2143/QL.88.2.2020848