scholarly journals 合成生命的倫理觀: 有所為，有所不為

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-59
Author(s):  
Xinqing ZHANG
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Definition Of Life ◽  
Chinese Science ◽  
Traditional Definition ◽  
Digital Commons ◽  
Science Community ◽  
Modern Biotechnology ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Relevant Factors

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.合成生命挑戰了傳統的生命觀念。人類社會要慎重對待合成生物學研究和應用，但不應對合成生命下道德禁令。鑒於合成生命存在較大的風險，既要強調科學家的自律，有所不為，又要加強外部監管。鑒於合成生命存在巨大的潛在利益，公正合理地“有所為”也是必要的。為有效處理與解決合成生命所遇到的倫理—政策問題，中國應儘快醞釀建立一種科學—倫理審查制度和機制。Modern biotechnology that creates living organisms challenge the traditional definition of life. This paper argues that although we should be very cautious when using synthetic biology, it would be ethically wrong and practically unwise to resist the new biotechnology all together. Daoism is used to discuss the dilemma between being natural (ziran) and being artificial (renwei). Moreover, Daoism calls for the Chinese science community to develop an ethical-regulatory framework to deal with both the potential of biotechnological research and its risks. The paper urges that if we decide to proceed with biotechnology, relevant factors concerning bio-safety and bio-security must be addressed immediately in China.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 350 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

On the applicability of dialetheism and philosophy of identity to the definition of life

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera M. Kolb
Keyword(s):  
Life Forms ◽  
Definition Of Life ◽  
Individual Organism ◽  
Numerical Identity ◽  
Chemical Systems ◽  
Daughter Cells ◽  
Important Idea ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractWe have found that the principles of dialetheism, which state that some contradictions (typically at the limits of a system) may be true, and which amply demonstrate the limits of thought and conception, can be valuable in sorting out and clarifying some astrobiological problems that impede our ability to define life. The examples include the classification of viruses as alive or not alive, and the description of the transition zone for the abiotic-to-biotic transition. Dialetheism gives us the philosophical tool to state that the viruses may be both alive and not alive, and that chemical systems may exist that are both abiotic and biotic.We have extracted some philosophical principles of the identity and have applied them to the identity of living organisms and their life forms. The first and most important idea is that we should define an individual organism via its numerical identity. For each organism its identity will be in relation to itself. As the organism undergoes various changes during its development, and as it transitions from one to the next of its life forms, one can observe numerous qualitative differences between these life forms. Although the life forms change and the organism is in a flux, what remains constant is the numerical identity of the organism. If the organism reproduces, for example by a fission mode, then the daughter cells will have their own numerical identity. We can state that the life of an organism is a sum of all its life forms over the period of time of the existence of the organism. Reproduction, particularly by fission, represents an identity dilemma, but it can be resolved by Gallois' occasional identities theory.

scholarly journals 道、技與自然——現代生物科技的莊子式批判

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-77
Author(s):  
Hongwen LI
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Engineering Technology ◽  
The Social ◽  
Digital Commons ◽  
Modern Biotechnology ◽  
Living Organisms

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.現代生物科技的廣泛應用引發了一系列社會、法律和倫理問題，它帶來的負面效應正如它的正面效果一樣多。現代生物科技的基本邏輯體現在：它採取還原論的思維模式，秉承改善生命的宗旨，以及持有技術樂觀主義的態度。作者運用莊子的哲學思想對現代生物科技展開一般性批評。作者指出，現代生物科技首先表現出強烈的反自然性，它向自然提出過分要求，干擾、阻止事物順其自然、按其本性來展示自己。現代生物科技還表現出異化特徵，主要體現在物質化和資本化兩個方面。物質化將人的活動限制在物的層面，片面追求物的有用性；資本化則導致生物資本主義的發展。用莊子道家的語言，技術的非自然性和異化的直接原因是“道”“技”分離。因此，為了走出現代生物技術的陷阱，應該採取莊子“道技合一”的方式，實現“技不離道”、“以道馭技”、“道法自然”之完美結合。Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses such as engineering, technology, and medical research. This paper highlights the social, legal, and moral issues brought about by modern biotechnology. It is particularly concerned with materialism, capitalism, and commercialism where biotechnological means are explored and exploited without ethical boundaries. The result of biotechnological abuse is that we human beings will become increasingly alienated from our authentic nature and being.Daoism was one of the major philosophical traditions of ancient China, based on the teaching of Laozi and Zhuangzi. This paper focuses on the Daoist view of human life and its relation to the natural world from Zhuangzi’s perspective. It will be contended that we must put “human flourishing” – the Dao – first, before we care about the utility of science and technology – the Ji. According to Daoism, true human self-realization depends on the unity between the Dao and the Ji.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 138 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

scholarly journals 大腦移植對於道德責任歸屬的挑戰: 人格同一性判準的反思

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-27
Author(s):  
Wanling CHOU
Keyword(s):  
Organ Transplantation ◽  
Personal Identity ◽  
Medical Technology ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Moral Accountability ◽  
Traditional Definition ◽  
Digital Commons ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Brain

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.當今社會， 作為治療方式的器官移植手術(organ transplantation)已經相當普遍。然而，如果大腦作為器官的一種，並且在技術上成為可能，那麼我們如何透過大腦的提供者和接收者的關係去界定人格同一性的問題？我們又如何在傳統的同一性的概念上去解釋道德責任的歸屬呢？本文主要探討大腦移植手術對於人格同一性判準的挑戰與可能的回應。筆者認為，西方傳統以來在探討關於人格同一性的概念時，多從生物層次的個體以及心理層次的自我來思考問題，並沒有跳脫個人的視角。文章試圖從儒家思想對人格同一性問題，探討跳脫西方既有的將人化約的思維脈絡來重新思考人格同一性判準。Organ transplantation is now accepted as a common medical treatment. However, the potential for the transplantation of the brain, like any other organ, to become technically feasible gives rise to a series of ethical issues. This essay focuses on the challenges to the criteria for personal identity created by medical technology. Does transplantation preserve the integrity of personal identity? If not, how can we define moral accountability? The essay attempts to show that the traditional definition of personal identity in the West is both biologically and psychologically reductive, as it fails to deal with the issue of the preservation of personal identity in the case of brain transplants. The author argues for an alternative way (via the Confucian understanding of the person and relationality, for example) of responding to the new ethical challenges associated with brain transplantation.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 301 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

scholarly journals The Hidden Charm of Life

Life ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Porcar
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Living Organisms

Synthetic biology is an engineering view on biotechnology, which has revolutionized genetic engineering. The field has seen a constant development of metaphors that tend to highlight the similarities of cells with machines. I argue here that living organisms, particularly bacterial cells, are not machine-like, engineerable entities, but, instead, factory-like complex systems shaped by evolution. A change of the comparative paradigm in synthetic biology from machines to factories, from hardware to software, and from informatics to economy is discussed.

Artificially making Lifeform

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1290-1295
Author(s):  
Souvik Das
Keyword(s):  
Medical Community ◽  
Programming Algorithm ◽  
The Public ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Funding Agencies ◽  
Proper Definition ◽  
Inanimate Matter ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract: The word ‘life’ is a mysterious word with a chart of attributes that have neither been completed nor has been agreed upon by the race of humans. Probably the proper definition of life is impossible to identify for humans (the proof for this claim is given later) but the handbook to the secret shall be updated till the end, thanks to the inquisitive attitude of humans. For this piece, we shall adopt the description from the professional medical community of today. Though this topic falls midway between science and philosophy, this project is strictly technical. To quote dictionary.com, Life is the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction and the power of adaptation to environment- through changes originating internally; cambridge.com teaches Life is the period between birth and death, or the experience or state of being alive; medicaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com states Life is the property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organisms. There are several other definitions but to summarize, we can safely state that though the concept is somewhat vague, we could indeed point out some common principles. We shall, in this project, try to replicate the characteristics so as to attain life in medical terms. (The order does not base upon importance of the listed character since the characters, all of them are absolute essentials and cannot possibly be categorized as more or less important). 1) Metabolism 2) Growth 3) Adaptability 4) Birth 5) Death 6) Self-stimulated response to environment 7) Reproduction 8) Can sustain self without foreign intervention Keywords: artificial, life, intelligence, computer, programming, algorithm This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Emotion and Virtue

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopal Sreenivasan
Keyword(s):  
Virtue Ethics ◽  
Moral Psychology ◽  
Character Trait ◽  
Full Measure ◽  
Traditional Definition ◽  
Definition Of

What must a person be like to possess a virtue in full measure? What sort of psychological constitution does one need to be an exemplar of compassion, say, or of courage? Focusing on these two examples, this book ingeniously argues that certain emotion traits play an indispensable role in virtue. With exemplars of compassion, for instance, this role is played by a modified sympathy trait, which is central to enabling these exemplars to be reliably correct judges of the compassionate thing to do in various practical situations. Indeed, according to the book, the virtue of compassion is, in a sense, a modified sympathy trait, just as courage is a modified fear trait. While the book upholds the traditional definition of virtue as a species of character trait, it discards other traditional precepts. For example, the book rejects the unity of the virtues and raises new questions about when virtue should be taught. Unlike orthodox virtue ethics, moreover, this account does not aspire to rival consequentialism and deontology. Instead the book repudiates the ambitions of virtue imperialism, and makes significant contributions to moral psychology and the theory of virtue alike.

scholarly journals Societal impact of synthetic biology: responsible research and innovation (RRI)

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gregorowius ◽  
Anna Deplazes-Zemp
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Societal Impact ◽  
Biotechnological Applications ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Responsible Research

Synthetic biology is an emerging field at the interface between biology and engineering, which has generated many expectations for beneficial biomedical and biotechnological applications. At the same time, however, it has also raised concerns about risks or the aim of producing new forms of living organisms. Researchers from different disciplines as well as policymakers and the general public have expressed the need for a form of technology assessment that not only deals with technical aspects, but also includes societal and ethical issues. A recent and very influential model of technology assessment that tries to implement these aims is known as RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation). In this paper, we introduce this model and its historical precursor strategies. Based on the societal and ethical issues which are presented in the current literature, we discuss challenges and opportunities of applying the RRI model for the assessment of synthetic biology.

scholarly journals 關於放棄臨床無效治療的倫理學思考

2000 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-140
Author(s):  
Yongsong GUO
Keyword(s):  
Social Situation ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
Moral Pluralism ◽  
Medical Progress ◽  
Digital Commons ◽  
The Family ◽  
Futile Treatment ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Right ◽  
Other Regarding

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.對於沒有臨床救治希望的病人，要不要繼續治療？誰有最終的決定權？這既是臨床醫療問題，又是一個涉及社會倫理法規的問題。對於這樣的病人，不放棄治療可能意味著要消耗更多的醫療資源但又無法挽救病人，但是如果放棄治療，可能會遇到更多的來自社會傳統的、倫理法規的問題。筆者認為，在社會多元化發展的今天，面對臨床無效治療，應在尊重病人或病人家屬有最終決定權的前提下，以一定道德、法規為依據，按照一定的醫療程式和法律手續進行處理，可能是更為符合人道和社會公眾利益的理性選擇。There has not been a clear medical definition of futility. The concept of futile treatment involves not only medical, but also social, ethical, and legal components. This paper argues that in today's pluralistic moral circumstances, the patient and/or the family should have the final right to decision regarding futile treatment.Some are opposed to renouncing futile treatment, whatever futility is defined. For them, first, abandoning treatment is in conflict with the physician's basic duty of offering treatment. Second, giving up treatment also gives up the chance of making medical progress by attempting to treat the patient. Third, the patient would thereby lose the opportunity of prolonging the life. And finally, it would change the good image of the physician (as taking care of the patient). On the other hand, those who support renouncing futile treatment offer different reasons. First, giving up futile treatment will turn out to be respecting the value of the patient's life. Second, It would help people recognize the natural limit of contemporary medical development. Third, it would facilitate a reasonable pattern of distributing scarce medical resources. And finally, it could reduce the suffering of the patient. As a result, we face a social situation of moral pluralism: people disagree with each other regarding renouncing futile treatment.A difficult practical issue is who has the right to decide renouncing futile treatment. This paper argues that, giving individuals hold conflicting views of life, valoue and morality, the patient should have the final decision power regarding his/her own treatment. If the patient is incompetent, then the family should have the deciding right. In this respect we should overcome the longstanding medical paternalism. In addition, society should establish a prcocedure to regulate and facilitate the decision-mading of renouncing futile treatment.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 16 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

scholarly journals Permanent Establishment – New Concept

2019 ◽  
pp. 445-456
Author(s):  
César García Novoa
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
New Economy ◽  
Tax Law ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Traditional Definition ◽  
Permanent Establishment ◽  
International Tax ◽  
Definition Of

The permanent establishment is an essential concept in International Tax Law. The traditional definition was based on the existence of a fixed place of business. At present, the new economy requires a change in the concept of permanent establishment. The topic of permanent establishment is based today on the so-called sufficient economic presence. The European Union is working on the definition of a permanent digital establishment.

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