Main description:

Humanbiotechnology has progressed immensely, and humanbiotechnological research has entered a crucial stage. This collection of essays is a significant and original contribution to the public debate on humanbiotechnology and its ethical and social ramifications. Interdisciplinary in composition this volume brings together leading academics in the fields of biology, law, theology, ethics and sociology to share their viewpoints and insights and to promote exchange between disciplines and convey facts and opinions to the wider public on this increasingly important area of technological development and ethical interest. Eschewing analysis on pragmatic or utilitarian grounds the essays in this collection are informed by the key ethical concept of 'human dignity' which has been central to the continental debate on human bioethics and is gaining in importance for the debate in the anglophone world.

Contents:

Contents: Foreword; The Wartburg conference project: human biotechnology as a challenge to society, Stefan Lorenz Sorgner; Part I Science: Research on human embryos?, Christiane NA1/4sslein-Volhard; The potential of stem cells, Hans R. SchAler. Part II Law: Human biotechnology, transculturality, globalization and symbolic (criminal) law, Carlos MarA a Romeo Casabona; Human biotechnology as a legal challenge, JA1/4rgen Simon. Part III The Church: Human biotechnology as a social challenge, Christoph KAhler; Ethical and theological challenges to human biotechnology: observations from the perspective of Catholic theology Joachim Wanke. Part IV Philosophical and Theological Ethics: Human dignity as a regulatory principle of bioethics, Reiner Anselm; Tolerance and respect in bioethical conflicts, Nikolaus Knoepffler; Human biotechnology as an ethical and social challenge, Julian Nida-RA1/4melin; Bioethics between physis and nomos, Gianni Vattimo. Part V Society: On the responsibility of the scientist, Dagmar Schipanski; Social responsibility in view of new possibilities in human biology, Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker; Glossary; Indexes.