Ethics and Pandemics: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on COVID-19 and Future Pandemics

This book explores the ethical implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities, politics, the economy, the environment, international relations, public health, and individual lives. It adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from various academic disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ethical challenges posed by the pandemic. The author discusses key ethical theories and applies them to analyze both COVID-19 and historical pandemics, aiming to prepare readers for ethical living during times of crisis.

Format: Hardback
Length: 229 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book is a comprehensive exploration of the ethical implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, encompassing a wide range of domains such as communities, politics, economy, environment, international relations, public health, and personal lives. It aims to provide readers with a holistic understanding of the profound ethical challenges posed by this global crisis. Moreover, the book serves as a valuable tool for contemplating the ethical ramifications of the emerging era of global pandemics.

Recognizing the intricate nature of the pandemic, the book embraces an interdisciplinary approach, welcoming diverse perspectives, ethical systems, and academic disciplines. It offers three primary avenues for delving into the subject matter:

Ethics for Pandemics: This section examines the ethical theories that are relevant and useful in navigating the challenges of pandemic living. It explores the application of concepts such as Kantian ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, consequentialist ethics, social contract theory, egoism, and altruism to analyze the ethical dilemmas and decisions encountered during pandemics.

Ethics in Pandemics: This section explores how long-standing ethical dilemmas are brought to the forefront during pandemics, shedding light on the ways in which they challenge our moral frameworks. It examines how pandemics reveal the limitations of existing ethical theories and prompt us to reevaluate our moral principles and values.

Ethics of Pandemics: This section focuses on the role of politicians and public health professionals in developing ethical systems of pandemic management. It examines the ethical considerations involved in decision-making processes, resource allocation, and communication strategies during pandemics. Interdisciplinary perspectives are prominently featured throughout the book, reflecting the valuable insights contributed by various academic disciplines, including medical ethics, public health, history, political science, economics, behavioral and evolutionary psychology, and climate science.

In the chapters, the author seamlessly blends theory and practice, providing an overview of the major ethical theories such as Kantian ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, consequentialist ethics, social contract theory, egoism, and altruism. These theories are then applied to analyze both the COVID-19 pandemic and historical pandemics, including typhus, smallpox, the Black Death, HIV/AIDS, and polio. By examining these historical cases, the book offers valuable insights into the ethical challenges and lessons learned from past experiences.

Through its comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, this book provides readers with a deeper understanding of the ethical dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic and equips them with the tools necessary to navigate the ethical challenges of our interconnected world. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and individuals seeking to cultivate a more ethical and responsible response to pandemics and other global crises.

Weight: 547g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031332067
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023