Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
But this distinction, which is considered morally significant, is not an abstract dis-
tinction on the different treatments; it is, rather, a distinction on the proportion of
the benefits that treatment can offer, which will depend on the patient's situation.
The key element is the 'degree' of benefit and welfare which may be provided with
such an action or omission.
In short, facts, states of affairs, and categories in Bioethics are fuzzy and, there-
fore, should be treated in a fuzzy way. As Sadegh-Zadeh [14] says, “everything in
medicine is fuzzy”. In the case analyzed before, that on euthanasia, all other relevant
features involved in it, apart from actions and omissions, and ordinary and extraor-
dinary means, come in degrees too: terminalness, painfulness, unbearableness, and
so on.
9.3
The Issue of Reasons and Argumentation in Bioethics
As we have said, Bioethics involves polemic issues and controversies since its
starting point is the pluralism of society about preferences, interests, doctrines, and
diverse conceptions of goodness. The other element involved in Bioethics is uncer-
tainty, the issue of how to manage risks. The answer is clear: by means of discus-
sion, by the public debate and the exercise of public reason, which imply a strong
argumentative exchange.
Argumentation in Bioethics includes two main kinds of argumentative schemes
that have a fuzzy and gradual character: Analogies and Slippery Slope Arguments.
Let's see them in detail.
9.3.1
Analogies in Bioethics
Analogy has its root in the Greek word 'analogia', which means understanding as
proportion, correspondence, and resemblance. It is the process of transferring in-
formation from a particular subject (the analogue or source) to another particular
subject (the target). Thus, an analogy establishes an interrelation between two dif-
ferent spheres or domains; it enables us to see aspects of a particular domain in
the light of another domain. In short, we can define analogy as similarity in some
respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar; or as a comparison based on
such similarity.
Analogies have two main functions, interconnected: a) Epistemic: An explana-
tory function, to shape our perceptions and conceptualizations (comprehension) of
phenomena. b) Moral: An argumentative function, to guide us in our handling of
phenomena, to argue how things should be, by comparison with others. This double
sense of analogies is patent in Bioethics. Let's present some examples. In the case
of abortion, there are some very well known analogies used in the debate [10]. The
Violinist Analogy is one of those examples:
