PHIL 335 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: High Tech, Bioethics, Human Overpopulation
3 Jun 2018
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Department
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Unit 10
1.
What are the differences between the Georgetown definition of bioethics and that of
Potter? Which do you think is preferable, and why?
The bioethics that Potter describes is quite different than the Georgetown description of
bioethics. Potter’s definition describes the direction bioethics is headed where bioethics is
concerned with environmental and international topics. Georgetown’s on the other hand, is still
concerned with the traditional form of bioethics where the physician-patient relationship is of
key concern.
Potter is concerned with the growing biological crisis occurring on our planet in terms of human
overpopulation and the destruction of species. Potter is interested in how to respond both
meaningfully and scientifically to these issues. He believes we have a duty to do this as the
intensifying of the global population is creating a biosphere crisis. Potter’s bioethics’ main goal
is to interconnect “global phenomena of human biology, population, and natural resources” with
human health care.
Georgetown’s bioethics is very different from that of Potter’s. Their bioethics is concerned more
with the advancement of health care technology and how it is going to impact reproduction,
medical ethics, and the researcher-patient relationship. In addition to this, clinical work,
physician-patient relationship, patient choice, and confidentiality are all important to this type of
bioethics. As you can see, this type of bioethics is more concerned with the individual than any
global scale of ethics.
1. What is the environmental context of human health? Do you think that it matters to health
ethics?
The environmental context of health recognizes that human health is intertwined with what
occurs within the world’s environment and ecological settings. Environmental contexts that
affect human health include ecosystems, water resources, air quality, and even technology. A
healthy relationship between human health and the environment would represent a flourishing
relationship where both groups live in harmony.
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Document Summary
What are the differences between the georgetown definition of bioethics and that of. The bioethics that potter describes is quite different than the georgetown description of bioethics. Potter"s definition describes the direction bioethics is headed where bioethics is concerned with environmental and international topics. Georgetown"s on the other hand, is still concerned with the traditional form of bioethics where the physician-patient relationship is of key concern. Potter is concerned with the growing biological crisis occurring on our planet in terms of human overpopulation and the destruction of species. Potter is interested in how to respond both meaningfully and scientifically to these issues. He believes we have a duty to do this as the intensifying of the global population is creating a biosphere crisis. Potter"s bioethics" main goal is to interconnect global phenomena of human biology, population, and natural resources with human health care. Georgetown"s bioethics is very different from that of potter"s.
