Human Dignity in Bioethics

Stephen Dilley is Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. Edward's University, USA.

This volume brings together a collection of essays that rigorously examine the concept of human dignity from its metaphysical foundations to its polemical deployment in bioethical controversies. It explores the source and meaning of human dignity, examines the legitimacy of the concept of dignity in documents by international political bodies, and looks at the rhetoric of human dignity in specific controversies: embryonic stem cell research, abortion, human-animal chimeras, euthanasia and palliative care, psychotropic drugs, and assisted reproductive technologies.

Setting the Stage 1. Human Dignity in the Throes? An Introduction to the Volume Stephen Dilley and Nathan J. Palpant 2. Human Exceptionalism and the Imago Dei: The tradition of Human Dignity David H. Calhoun Part 1: The Source and Meaning of Human Dignity in Worldview Context 3. A Catholic Perspective on Human Dignity Christopher Tollefsen 4. A Protestant Perspective on Human Dignity Paul Copan 5. Postmodern Perspectives on Human Dignity Mark Dietrich Tschaepe 6. Dignity for Skeptics: A Naturalistic View of Human Dignity Richard McClelland Part 2: The Politics, Law, and Science of Human Dignity 7. International Policy and a Universal Conception of Human Dignity Roberto Andorno 8. Human Dignity and the Law O. Carter Snead 9. Prospects for Human Dignity after Darwin David H. Calhoun Part 3: The Rhetoric of Human Dignity in Bioethics 10. Human Dignity and the New Reproductive Technologies Audrey R. Chapman 11. The Language of Human Dignity in the Abortion Debate Scott Rae 12. Human Dignity and the Debate over Early Human Embryos Nathan J. Palpant and Suzanne Holland 13. Human Dignity in End of Life Issues: From Palliative Care to Euthanasia Thomas R. McCormick 14. The Evolving Bioethical Landscape of Human-Animal Chimeras John Loike 15. Psychotropic Drugs and the Brain: A Neurological Perspective on Human Dignity William P. Cheshire Jr.