A Synthesis of Bioethics and Environmental Ethics Founded upon the Concept of Care: Toward a Japanese Approach to Bioethics

Abstract

Bioethics and environmental ethics have been largely separated, in principle. However, the two types of ethics do overlap when dealing with significant issues such as human embryos, animal experimentation, and responsibility to future generations. In this paper, the possibility of synthesizing these two ethics through the concept of care is considered. Accordingly, the range of the object of the concept of care is similarly broadened. Moreover, after considering the serious defects of care-based theory, a care-based position, which regards human rights or their substitute as a complement to care, is advanced. This position can be said to be a Japanese approach to bioethics.

Citation

Takahashi, T. (2005), "A Synthesis of Bioethics and Environmental Ethics Founded upon the Concept of Care: Toward a Japanese Approach to Bioethics", Takahashi, T. (Ed.) Taking Life and Death Seriously - Bioethics from Japan (Advances in Bioethics, Vol. 8), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 19-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1479-3709(05)08801-1