Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
striving to live together in a way that is ordered by the measure of their
moral intelligence (human dignity, sociability, and human needs). There is
discussion on what should have priority: rights (capabilities) or responsi-
bilities. Also, there is no agreement on what counts as the basis for being
entitled to certain rights: rationality, intelligence, or the fact that there is life.
Are the rights prepolitical or an artifact of laws and institutions? The capa-
bility approach takes the existence as a human being as basis for rights, and
assumes prepolitical rights. It also pleads for a proactive government role,
not only withholding itself from intrusion on the rights of citizens but also
actively promoting freedom. Nussbaum is against a world state because of
the risk of a dictatorship without outside countervailing force. She favors
national autonomy with foreign intervention. The responsibility for main-
taining a threshold level for all capabilities should be assigned to institutions
that can enforce cooperation from individuals (taxes, legislation). Above this
threshold, individuals may follow their own conscience or group norms.
Essential human rights must be incorporated in the national constitution of
e ac h c ou nt r y.
On an international level, a variety of actors share in the responsibility:
1. Government organizations with responsibility for international
solidarity
2. Multinationals
3. Global economic policy and organizations
4. International organizations (UN, ILO, International Court, etc.)
5. NGOs
Adapting Nussbaum's approach to sustainable (nano)technology devel-
opment requires addressing a somewhat different set of actors. In addition
to government organizations with responsibility for international solidar-
ity, government organizations with responsibility for ST&I policy have to
be involved. The same goes for departments of international organizations,
including UNIDO, UNESCO, but also regional intergovernmental bodies
such as the European Commission DG Research. In addition to multination-
als and (development) NGOs, universities and research centers as well as
international academic organizations have to be called upon.
The international capabilities approach distinguishes 10 principles for a
just global structure:
1. A plurality of actors should be held responsible.
2. National sovereignty should be respected within boundary condi-
tions of human capabilities.
3. Rich countries should give a substantial part of their BNP to poor
countries.
