Problems of Bioethics

Ohly (theology, Goethe U. Frankfurt, Germany) discusses problems in bioethics from a philosophical perspective. The book is framed by the perspective that religious and metaphysical implications from science are inevitable, and therefore questions of defining, saving, or ending life are not strictly technical matters. Several particular problems are addressed including the moral status of an embryo, cloning for reproduction and germ line therapy, end of life decisions, and the possibility of conscious robots. In addition, reflections on the general topics of moral feelings, qualia, free will, and human dignity are inserted to provide philosophical foundations for the particular arguments. There is no index and the references are given as footnotes. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Lukas Ohly, born in 1969; studying evangelical theology and philosophy; 1998 MA phil.; 2000 dissertation thesis in ev. theology about human dignity and euthanasia; 2007 second thesis about genetic enhancement and anthropology; lecturer of Frankfurt university since 2007; author of a book about a theory of perceiving God (2011), many articles about ethics and philosophy of religion.