What is the Essence of Philosophical Ethics - Coursework Example

What is the essence of Philosophical Ethics? Introduction “Bioethicist” and “ethicist” are entirely new terms in the philosophical field. However, from a philosophical point of view, scholars can tell that the terms have a connection to a group of emerging experts in ethics. On the same view, bioethics experts focus, or are competent in the elements of philosophical ethics, which are central to bioethics. On the other hand, academic philosophers perceive themselves as traditionally responsible for providing critical reflections in relation to assumptions, institutions, beliefs, and judgments (Schuklenk & Kerin, 2001). However, the emergence of the bioethics experts appears to undermine the role of academic professionals, mainly because they are showing their value to the society by providing problems to the same issues. The bioethics experts are further perceived as unqualified because critiques feel that they lack relevant competence in philosophical ethics, proficiency in the core philosophical curriculum, and they did not pass philosophical qualifier exams. Alternatively, critics strongly suggest that the bioethics do not see themselves as philosophers, but they contribute in providing solutions to bioethics from a broad spectrum of fields, such as law, professional ethics, religious ethics, and medicine. Regardless of the critic’s suggestions, bioethics experts are essential in philosophical ethics because their contributions have resulted to working solutions for a wide variety of social and professional problems (Loretta, 2006). The context The term “bioethics” is borrowed from Greek words bios, which means life, and ethike, which literary means ethics. Therefore, a combination of the words will give biosethicke, and this is what is referred to as ethics of life. From a broader perspective, bioethics encompasses a discipline largely concerned with the ethical evaluations of normative challenges in biomedical sciences, medical practices, including the management of healthcare. Bioethics is both an academic field and professional activity. In both contexts, bioethics has evolved from the field of medical sciences and practice (Loretta, 2006). In addition, it is a multidisciplinary field, which is broad and includes other fields, rather than healthcare and medical fields alone. This means that it is inclusive of other ethical issues in sciences, which are central to life. In this regard, such include genetics, psychology, and allocation of resources in healthcare management. In fact, owing to its flexibility, bioethics has managed to show great variance when compared to other fields such as law, professional code of ethics, religious ethics, and etiquette. However, other practitioners from the mentioned religious, law and research ethics consult bioethical experts. In addition, it is widely applied in clinical issues, in an effort to achieve balance through the provision of guidelines to refer by the clinical professionals (Loretta, 2006). Philosophy is a critical reflection about the causes, meanings, truths, and logical links of the experiences of human beings and essential knowledge ideas. Owing to this, philosophy has become rational and reasoned. Although philosophy has been applied in a variety of issues, particularly as an extension, philosophy on its own has historically been central to the evaluation of language and propositions of thought. In this perspective, it is imperative to note that there are medical ethics, and there are arguments that it has an aspect of philosophy. However, prior studies have shown that the aspects postulated may not be existing, and has termed there are no foundational philosophical basics for medical ethics; hence, such claims give medicine an arbitrary craft (Schuklenk & Kerin, 2001). Uniqueness of Philosophical Bioethics An assessment of philosophical bioethics with other fields shows that the former comprises of unique aspects. While the professional code of ethics aims at improving the conditions of working, in terms of employee relationship and so on, philosophical bioethics advocates for a range of issues. This shows that it does not target definite things; the professional codes of ethics focus on particular subjects in an organization, whereas the philosophical bioethics focus on improving education, housing, nutrition, reducing poverty, pollution, illiteracy and many other unrelated aspects of life (Schuklenk & Kerin, 2001). Alternatively, while law’s objective is to ensure justice for all, philosophical bioethics comes in with diverse issues such as human rights, human dignity and many others. Interestingly, philosophical bioethics does not choose particular issues to settle on; it rather views equally issues, for example from the criminal’s perspective, and argues that they also merit to be treated with dignity, and, although convicted they do not fall short of human beings. In addition, philosophical bioethics comprise of professionals who have the capability to understand other fields comprehensively (Loretta, 2006). Owing to this, they stand a chance to review a wide variety of disciplines. This is a unique aspect because they can review issues in law, medicine, research, and others with ease. In addition, they have the knowledge and capacity to provide arguments, which would be considered significant, and people can adapt to improve the lives of the people. In other fields, for example, law and medicine, it is rare and unheard of for lawyers to critic medicine practice, and medicine practitioners to review issues in law practice. However, the two professionals can offer their opinions on a variety of issues in the different practices, but not in depth. Properties of Philosophical Bioethics Bioethics is teachable in various forms throughout the earth in developed and upcoming countries. For example, the experts can teach in medical faculties, medical humanities, and philosophy programs, including postgraduate degrees. In addition, bioethics has managed to become a multidisciplinary activity. In this regard, there has been rapid growth in terms of the availability of biomedical research (Loretta, 2006). For example, in the 1960s, the first organ transplant was successful, the contraceptive pill, and prenatal diagnosis. Hence, people began to demand for liberty as equal rights for those who were non-Caucasian, such as the female and gay. Therefore, people began to embrace the changes in the biomedical science began the modern society. In the same context, philosophical bioethics is principled in that it is the core to the principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice. Through the principles, the bioethicists are able to offer working and useful solutions to the problems of society, rather than provide harmful the society through the solutions. Similar to other professionals, or fields, philosophical bioethics follows an approach or theories, which help in establishing the rightness or wrongness of a given action by evaluating the consequences of its occurrence (Schuklenk & Kerin, 2001). In fact, the models are suitable for decision-making, particularly in the problem-solving category. Conversely, the approaches are unambiguous, which provides a clear procedure to make decisions. Although bioethics appears to be born with the abilities to solve problems in the society, they also do borrow solutions of the problems based on prior evaluation of Kantian and neo-Kantian ethical theories. In addition, the philosophical bioethics, although prominent in the medical field, they feature in other fields such as theology, law, and professionalism. Application The paper has mentioned that philosophical bioethics applies in a broad spectrum of subjects, but it is predominant in the field of medicine. A typical example where it has applied in health is through the relationship between healthcare workers and the patients. In such a context, a patient engages with the worker in a more or less a contractual agreement. Therefore, similar to the context of a customer and professional selling service, the contract will include the protection of the partners. The protections allow for legal assistance, particularly when one of the partners fails to keep their end of the bargain. This approach has managed to do away with the authoritarian approaches of the physician, and has supported integration of the bioethics principles; autonomy. In addition, the approach borrowed from bioethics, also brought about informed voluntary consent to patients, and an agreement between the doctors and the patients about an agreed model or proposal for treatment. From the philosophical viewpoint, there is support for autonomy, and patient confidentiality is important. This shows respect for the patient’s decision concerning a particular treatment approach, and inclusion in the effort to enhance their well-being (Schuklenk & Kerin, 2001). Conclusion Philosophical ethics are important from every aspect of life. The field has managed to ensure there is equilibrium in life, by providing solutions to a wide variety of issues in the broad category of fields. Although academic professionals, historically appeared to provide solutions, and the emergence of philosophical bioethicists appear to undermine their role in society, the latter provide solutions comprehensively. Equally, it is vital to appreciate that the academic professionals are also proficient, but there is a limit to their knowledge. For example, a doctor cannot provide a review on law issues, but he or she can provide a comprehensive review on issues in medicine. The same applies for lawyers; however, for bioethicists they can provide reviews on both disciplines comprehensively. This shows that philosophical bioethics is a unique field, and it is important. The practical application of philosophical concepts is in the medicine field, particularly through the relationships between patients and healthcare staff. In such a context, the relationship is central to respect, autonomy and inclusion of the patient in the treatment approaches. In so doing, the patient can decide on whether a particular treatment approach is appropriate for them. This has contributed to success in healthcare, particularly in the promotion of health and realization of quality patient care. References Loretta, M. K. (2006). Bioethics as a Second-Order Discipline: Who Is Not a Bioethicist? Journal of Medicine and Philosophy: A Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy of Medicine, 31(6), 601-628. Schuklenk, U., & Kerin, J. (2001). Bioethics: Philosophical Aspects. Retrieved from http://www.udo-schuklenk.org/files/bioethics.pdf Read More