A biocentric approach to issues of life and death

Abstract

I argue that bioethics needs to focus less exclusively on our character as rational choice-making sentient beings, and take more into account our character and interests as living beings of the sort we are, of which our consciousness is but one aspect I propose that we adopt what I deem a biocentric ethic, centring on our nature and character as living human beings. As I develop them, the central biocentric conceptions are as follows:

• A living being is best thought of not as a thing but as a living system, an ongoing life-process of a particular sort.

• Our interests as living beings spring from our particular character and lie in whatever contributes to our coherent effective functioning as ongoing life processes of that character.

• Our interests encompass our whole being, and not just our character as sentient, conscious, rational, decision-making beings.

I argue that such conceptions can help us deal with matters of bioethical concern, including issues of euthanasia, abortion, autonomy, and perhaps genetic engineering.