On 2011 Lún 19, at 08:39, Michael Power wrote:
Some people are driven to maximize their power, wealth, and status, and are infinitely devious in finding new ways to do so. Most of are built to be like sheep most of the time following where others go. But, a substantial minority are born with a clear sense of what is right and what is wrong, and are driven by ideals of truth and justice.
Perhaps, then, we should think again about the foundations of our ethical system: the enlightenment ethical principles founded on Mill's "On Liberty", where he takes as axiomatic the primacy of "individual autonomy", and see the problem of ethics arising from the constant threat to individual independence that arises from other individuals exercising their independence.
There are other positions which start from different axioms, but as yet there is has been no serious challenge mounted to the unquestioning allegiance to Mill's position in medical ethics. At best, it has met with resistance in countries where it is culturally alien.
Ronán Conroy
[log in to unmask]Associate Professor
Division of Population Health Sciences
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Beaux Lane House
Dublin 2