Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Kant and Existentialism

Existentialism and Kantian ethics. Drawing parallels or distinctions between Kant and Sartre is nothing new. Lots of theorists have done this and anyone familiar with the work of Kant would find much that is familiar in the work of Sartre. Likewise anyone familiar with the work of Sartre will be aware of his criticisms of Kant. While I don’t want to suggest that there is … Continue reading Kant and Existentialism »

Problems with the WHO Definition of ‘Health’

This is a section of a larger paper discussing problems in health care distribution. The World Health Organisation [1] defines health as “…a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” [2] In doing so it incorporates total well-being under the concept of health. This definition is not a relational claim between the various parameters of … Continue reading Problems with the WHO Definition of ‘Health’ »

Introduction to a Bioethical Analysis of the Film Gattaca

This paper was delivered at a Post-graduate seminar, Latrobe University, Melbourne 2003. Footnotes are missing. All fictions dealing with genetic “engineering” raise issues of identity and genetic essentialism/determinism. This film is often favoured as a representation of ‘real’ as opposed to ‘fictional’ problems in this regard because it extrapolates on the basis of known science and because it avoids the cruder, less plausible forms of … Continue reading Introduction to a Bioethical Analysis of the Film Gattaca »

Problems with the Biomedical Model of Health

AAP Conference, Adelaide. 2003. Introduction: Defining the concept of ‘health’ is a central problem in the field of Bioethics. It sits at the crossroads of multiple levels of theory, having implications for both metaphysics and normative ethics. Among the plethora of potential theories, the work of Christopher Boorse continues to be widely influential. Boorse argues that it is possible to give an objective, value-neutral account … Continue reading Problems with the Biomedical Model of Health »

The Ethics of I.V.F. – The Right to Reproduce

Burning Down the House Publications, Melbourne 1988. Introduction Parameters of Discussion In considering the ethical status of the human IVF programme, one is initially faced with an enormous range of ethical questions. Perhaps the most prominent of these , both in the community and on policy regulating bodies, has focused on the “sanctity-of-life” principle. Debate of this principle has itself concentrated on the moral status … Continue reading The Ethics of I.V.F. – The Right to Reproduce »