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KMID : 1172020150160020031
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Journal of Korean Bioethics Association
2015 Volume.16 No. 2 p.31 ~ p.47
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Searching for a Theory of Common Morality for Biomedical Ethics: Focusing on the Debate Between Beauchamp and Childress and Gert
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Mok Kwang-Su
Ryu Jae-Han
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Abstract
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The debate between Tom Beauchamp and James Childress (hereafter, BC) and Bernard Gert, demonstrates that the field of biomedical ethics has been paying more attention to common morality. This is because many believe common morality is an effective justification for a biomedical ethics theory within a pluralistic society. Despite common morality receiving much attention, a constructive process has not been undertaken for searching for such a theory. In this paper, we reconstruct a biomedical ethics theory of common morality in a pluralist society. We explicate BC and Gert"s theories of common morality, and use our critical response to reconstruct a theory of common morality that works within biomedical ethics. According to our analysis, if both theories are appropriately revised, BC"s theory of common morality is not only compatible with Gert"s, but also the two theories can be integrated to become a biomedical ethics theory of common morality. We suggest a revised theory of common morality based on BC"s theory and supported by Gert"s. This is because BC"s common morality is much more applicable within a pluralistic society and for practical application in biomedical ethics. We argue that a newly reconstructed theory of common morality should meet multiple justificatory method levels (i.e., empirical, conceptual, and normative justifications); that common morality’s scope should be restricted for universal justification and a firm foundation; and that this theory should be theoretically sophisticated. This reconstructed and revised theory of common morality will contribute to the theoretical and practical systemization of biomedical ethics in pluralistic society and set a boundary for reasonable pluralism, which permits reasonable moral disagreement in biomedical ethics.
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KEYWORD
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common morality, pluralistic society, biomedical ethics, Tom Beauchamp and James Childress, Bernard Gert
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