From Physicians' Professional Ethos towards Medical Ethics and Bioethics: A German Perspective on Historical Experiences and Lasting Commitments

This book explores the development of bioethics in Germany post-World War II, including strategies for overcoming resistance, the introduction of a culture of dialogue, and the moral ambiguities inherent in the institutionalization of bioethics and law. It also addresses the problem of ethics expertise in a pluralism and highlights the difficulty of harmonizing commitment to professional integrity with the project of enhancing physicians' responsiveness to suffering patients.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 331 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book is a collection of essays by influential thinkers who played a crucial role in shaping ethical thought in medicine after World War II in Germany. It documents their strategies for overcoming initial resistance from physicians, philosophers, and (in the East) politicians. The work explores their diverse approaches, such as socialist versus liberal bioethics, their efforts to foster a culture of dialogue in medicine, and the moral complexities inherent in the institutionalization of bioethics and legal frameworks.

Furthermore, the essays in this book delve into the issue of ethics expertise in a pluralistic society, where the intellectual mainstream aims to reduce it to "varieties of post-traditionalism." The book also addresses the problem of "patient autonomy," highlighting the challenges of balancing commitment to professional integrity with the desire to enhance physicians' responsiveness to suffering patients.

As these essays demonstrate, the development of bioethics in Germany is characterized by a complex and multifaceted trajectory, resisting a linear progression towards greater progressiveness. Nonetheless, it retains a sense of the traditional ethos of the guild, which is challenged by moral pluralism in ways that still demand comprehensive solutions.

This book is an essential read for all academics interested in the origins and evolution of bioethics. It provides valuable insights into the historical, cultural, and philosophical factors that have shaped the field, and offers valuable perspectives on the ongoing challenges and dilemmas faced by bioethicists today.

Weight: 539g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030780388
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022