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KMID : 1172020130140010049
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Journal of Korean Bioethics Association
2013 Volume.14 No. 1 p.49 ~ p.63
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Autonomy and Communitarian Bioethics
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Yoo Su-Jung
Choi Kyung-Suk
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Abstract
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This paper critically considers “the principle of respecting autonomy” which has played an important role in bioethical discourse. Although not rejecting the modern ideal of autonomy, this paper argues that the principle of respecting autonomy is no more than that of respecting freedom. The overestimation of autonomy reflects the social atmosphere in which liberal individualism had become an ideology. However, liberal individualistic bioethical discourses based on autonomy has their limitation in that it does not fully deal with social problems embeded in bioethical issues. Thus, this paper argues that we need to explore a new approach to bioethical issues and to note a communitarian approach as a new one. Communitarianism this paper supports is not an authoritarian one, but responsive one that pursues the balance between individual good like autonomy and common good. As Callahan points out, communitarianism suggests a new approach by raising the question, “What will a new technology mean for all of us together?” This is different from liberal individualistic approach that raises whether a new technology is useful for an individual and what it means for him/her and decide whether to adopt it. In addition, Callahan argues that autonomy should be broaden to encompass an analysis of what constitutes morally good and bad free choices. This shows that communitarianism worries about the position in which the principle of respecting autonomy is understood to be that of respecting freedom. Communitarianism is valuable in that it provides new approaches that forms bioethics issues, although it produces a new concrete solution. Communitarian perspectives suggest that different bioethical issues may be raised and we may solve them differently.
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KEYWORD
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autonomy, individual good, common good, liberal individualism, authoritarian communitarianism, responsive communitarianism
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