The article examines the meaning of the other for Kant's idea of autonomy. Autonomy is interpreted, in relation to the universal demand of the ethical, as governing the will by principles. Autonomy as principled self-determination by means of the practical law cannot be understood as the standpoint of an isolated subject. Instead we must understand it as a standpoint taken towards others, which we treat as the aspect of spontaneity, and at the same time as a standpoint taken thanks to others, since others make possible its awakening and development - here the aspect of receptivity is discussed. In this two-way relation between autonomy (enabled by a self-determining goverment by principle) and the other, the character of dialogical mutuality is exhibited: autonomy is the principled considerateness of a good will towards others, and, in order for it to be such, it must be initiated by others., Ondřej Sikora., and Obsahuje poznámky a bibliografii
Medicína je specifickým oborem, který čerpá nejen z empirických poznatků přírodních věd, ale též z principů věd humanitních, i skutečnosti, že zdraví a nemoc nejsou jen kategorie výlučně přírodovědné, ale i hodnotové a proto je nutno zachovávat proporcionalitu mezi oprávněnými požadavky biomedicínského výzkumu a etickými nároky na něj a mezi morálními imperativy lékařské praxe. To je právě prostor pro etiku a etický přístup k řešení nejasných nebo sporných otázek našeho konání, otázek veřejností dnes velmi citlivě vnímaných, často vedoucích ke ztrátě důvěry nejen ve zdravotníky a zdravotnictví, ale i v celý společenský systém. Principy etického rozhodování v medicíně, hygienu a epidemiologii nevyjímaje, spočívají na dvou základních předpokladech: prvým je profesionální etika odpovědnosti, která zajišťuje kvalitu péče s vysokým stupněm odbornosti lékaře při poskytování pomoci a zábraně možných škod (primum non nocere) a druhým je právo na sebeurčení (autonomie jedince) s právem na informovanost - to je souhlas jedince informovaného pro něj srozumitelným způsobem nejen o plánovaném diagnostickém, léčebném a příslušném preventivním opatření, ale i v případě epidemiologických studií vztahu prostředí a zdraví jeho informovaného souhlasu k jeho účasti ve studii, jejíž by měl být subjektem. Článek se zabývá metodickými otázkami etických přístupů ke zdravotním problémům s důrazem na hromadně se vyskytující infekční a chronické nesdělné nemoci z hlediska šancí jejich prevence., Medicine is a specific area that draws not only on empirical knowledge of sciences but also on principles from the humanities, and the fact that health and disease are not only exclusively categorised as natural science but as value based entities where it is necessary to maintain proportionality between the legitimate requirements of biomedical research and ethical requirements and the moral imperatives of medical practice. It is here that we find the niche for ethics and ethical approaches to solving unclear or disputed issues of our actions; questions that are very sensitively perceived by the public, often leading to a loss of confidence in both health care professionals and the health system but also in the whole social system as such. Ethical principles in medicine, including hygiene and epidemiology are based on two basic assumptions: the first is the professional ethic of responsibility, which ensures quality of care with a high degree of expertise from assisting physicians and prevention of possible harm (primum non nocere) and the second is the right to self-determination (individual autonomy) with the right to be informed. It likewise comprises informed consent based on clear information regarding planned diagnostic procedures, therapeutic and preventive measure and informed consent regarding epidemiological studies in which patient's cooperation is requested. The paper deals with methodological questions of ethical approaches to health related problems, stressing problems related to infections and chronic noncommunicable diseases of high incidence with a view to preventive measures., Vladimír Bencko, and Literatura
The well-known book by Peter Singer The Liberation of Animals has not only inspired a series of texts defending the rights and interests of animals, but has also provoked a discussion about what humanity is, what meaning can our belonging to the human kind have for us, and whether Singer’ critique of the “human prejudice” is justified. The paper considers two important defenders of “human prejudice”, B. A. O. Williams and C. Diamond, who both claim the concept of human being to be a basic ethical concept. In the first part, we will present Williams’s argument that solidarity and identity with one’s species doesn’t have the structure of a blameworthy privilege similar to sexism and racism. In the second part, we will proceed to Diamond’s conception of human being that is founded in relations and responses towards the other. Just as our treatment of a human being depends on whether we see this person as our fellow, so our treatment of an animal depends on how we see it. In the last part, we will consider Diamond’s illustration of how it is possible to change our perception of an animal and thus to change our treatment of it., Kamila Pacovská., and Obsahuje poznámky a bibliografii
A workshop on Ethics of Science in Czech Republic - the present state and its historical roots was organised by the Institute of Philosophy of the ASCR on February 9, 2010. The aim of the course was to discuss important topics, such as ethical aspects of managing and financing science in the Czech Republic, questions of bioethics and the ethics of science in the context of Czech thinking in the 20th century. and Wendy Drozenová.
This paper considers various approaches to love and morality in Protestant society in the late 18th century, as illustrated in Czechlanguage religious and educational literature (Korunka, aneb Wjnek Pannenský wssechněm pobožným a sslechetným Pannám toho Gazyku užjwagjcým, Litomyšl 1784; Kazatel Domovnj, Brno 1783). Our focus is on divine love, man’s love of God, marital love, parental and filial love, and definitions of immorality. We also examine some contemporary reactions to religious and educational writings in the memoirs of one of their readers, the rural preacher and Bible scholar Tomáš Juren (1750-1829), as well as the differences between the Christian confessions in their attitude to the emotions., Sixtus Bolom-Kotari., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Práce shrnuje vybrané současné postoje ke studiu morálního usuzování. Studie uvádí určitá klíčová filosofická východiska morálního usuzování do souvislosti s některými psychologickými koncepcemi, a to tak, že kriticky polemizuje s filosofickými východisky (Kant, Mill, Bentham, Rawl, Arendtová aj.), která tyto psychologické studie výslovně tematicky či la- tentně předpokládají. Práce podporuje měření morálního usuzování a pokusy o vypracování metod, které se touto oblastí zabývají. Doporučuje domácí validizační studie současných často užívaných nástrojů na měření morálního usuzování, především Defining Issues Test a Moral Judgment Test., This paper summarizes selected current attitudes towards the study of moral reasoning. The study refers certain key philosophical bases of moral reasoning in connection/regard to psychological concepts. The authors critically challenge the philosophical background (Kant, Mill, Bentham, Rawls, Arendt, etc.) that is either specifically expressed or covertly assumed. The study argues for the measurement of moral reasoning and methodological approaches concerning this research area. The authors recommend conducting a validation study of frequently used methods for measuring moral reasoning, especially Defining Issues Test and the Moral Judgment Test., David Krámský, Marek Preiss., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Sam Harris ve své knize The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values (2010) tvrdí, že otázka morálních hodnot není ničím jiným než otázkou po blahu vědomých bytostí. Ve svém výkladu si Harris klade tři úkoly: etablovat etiku jakožto plně racionální a ideálně vědeckou disciplínu, posílit a obhájit naturalismus a ustanovit smysluplnost lidského života na nenáboženské bázi. Harrisova kniha se setkala s odmítnutím v odborných recenzích, avšak ne všechny kritiky jsou oprávněné a skutečný problém s Harrisovým přístupem podle mne leží jinde, než se kritici domnívají. Existují nejméně tři důvody, proč odmítnout Harrisovu koncepci morálky jakožto vědy. Prvním je konfuzní pojetí vědy, se kterým souvisí absence čehokoli vědeckého v Harrisově popisu etických problémů či jejich řešení. Druhý důvod je nekoherentní postup při výkladu původu hodnot. A konečně posledním důvodem k odmítnutí Harrisovy vize je podoba života, kterou nám nabízí jakožto výsledek přijetí etiky založené na vědě., Sam Harris in his book The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values (2010) argues that the question of moral values is none other than the question of the happiness of conscious beings. In his account Harris sets himself three tasks: to establish ethics as a fully rational and purely scientific discipline, to reinforce and defend naturalism, and to rest the meaning of human life on a non-religious grounding. Harris’ book has met with a negative reaction in journal reviews, but not all the criticisms are justified and the real problem with Harris’ approach, in my view, is different to what his critics suppose. There are at least three reasons why we should reject Harris’ conception of morality as a science. The first is his confused conception of science which brings with it the absence of any scientific (on Harris’ understanding) ethical problems and of their solution. The second reason is an incoherent approach in his account of the origin of values. And finally, the last reason for rejecting Harris’ vision is the form of life which he offers us as the result of accepting ethics founded on science., Jakub Jirsa., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The concept of personal identity has recently come to play an increasingly important role in bioethical discussion concerning the beginning and end of human life. This study does not aim to represent the whole range of applications of theories of personal identity to bioethics. It focuses only on the beginning of human life, namely on the question of the moral acceptability of abortion. The author begins by describing an argument rejecting the acceptability of abortions which has been advanced by P. Lee, and it is shown that the validity of this argument depends on a certain conception of personal identity. Then the author briefly defines the psychological approach to personal identity, and he points to its weaknesses. There follows a discussion of the theory of animalism which claims that our persistence in time does not comprise any psychological factors. The conclusion of the article deals with various theories of moral status and indicates the inadequacy of functional criteria in accounting for the moral point of view. The article finishes by stating that the moral status of human beings should be founded on the concept of human dignity. If the considerations in the study have been set out correctly then they justify the following conclusion: abortions are morally unacceptable., David Černý., and Obsahuje poznámky a bibliografii
Much of the recent debate over the moral permissibility of abortion focuses on the question of whether the foetus is or is not a person, i.e. the only entity endowed with moral rights including the right to life. The article traces this line of thought in several key figures in the debate (Thomson, Tooley, Warren and Brody). However, I consider this way of argumentation as both inappropriate and misleading; in the second half of the article I offer arguments against using the concept of person in this debate., Jakub Jirsa., and Obsahuje poznámky a bibliografii