Document Detail


Theoretical and practical problems with wide reflective equilibrium in bioethics.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20358405     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Various theories have been put forward in an attempt to explain what makes moral judgments justifiable. One of the main theories currently advocated in bioethics is a form of coherentism known as wide reflective equilibrium. In this paper, I argue that wide reflective equilibrium is not a satisfactory approach for justifying moral beliefs and propositions. A long-standing theoretical problem for reflective equilibrium has not been adequately resolved, and, as a result, the main arguments for wide reflective equilibrium are unsuccessful. Moreover, practical problems that arise in using the method of wide reflective equilibrium undermine the idea that it is a viable approach for justifying moral judgments about cases and policies. Given that wide reflective equilibrium is the most prominent version of coherentism, these considerations call into question the coherentist approach to justification in bioethics.
Authors:
Carson Strong
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Theoretical medicine and bioethics     Volume:  31     ISSN:  1573-0980     ISO Abbreviation:  Theor Med Bioeth     Publication Date:  2010 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-05-10     Completed Date:  2010-06-17     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9805378     Medline TA:  Theor Med Bioeth     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  123-40     Citation Subset:  E; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 956 Court Avenue, Suite G212, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. cstrong@uthsc.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Bioethics*
Ethical Theory*
Humans
Judgment
Mental Competency*
Morals*
Resuscitation Orders / ethics

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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