Prescriptions: Autonomy, humanism and the purpose of health technology

Journal/Book: Theor Med Bioeth. 1998; 19: Spuiboulevard 50, PO Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publ. 525-545.

Abstract: My purpose is to examine two of the foundations of medical ethics: the principle of autonomy and the concept of the human. I also investigate the extent to which health technology makes autonomy and humanness possible. I begin by underlining Illich's point that the same health technology designed to promote health and autonomy also is pathogenic. I proceed to analyse the Kantian concept of autonomy, a concept which is closely associated with health and which continues to determine current ethical thinking. In so doing, I uncover an unexpected ontological function of health technology, a function described in Heidegger's work on technology. Based on this discovery, I suggest that calls for Kantian autonomy may often be self-defeating or even sometimes harmful. I conclude by calling for continued ethical vigilance, but also for a questioning of the hitherto virtually unquestionable concepts of ethics and humanness which may themselves play a role in our era's greatest problems.

Note: Article Krakauer EL, Harvard Univ, Sch Med, Dept Social Med, 641 Huntington Ave, Boston,MA 02115 USA

Keyword(s): medical ethics; autonomy; humanism; health technology; philosophy; Kant; Heidegger; Derrida

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