Grounding for Insolubility: Bioethics in the Face of Conflicting Paradigms

Interminable debates are characteristic for the bioethics field. The reason for this situation comes from the different moral approaches, besides just the methodological differences. The bioethics field is being questioned about its roles about policy making and research for moral truth. MacIntyre explains moral conflicts of modern society with the incommensurability concept. According this, a tradition and a community is necessary for a concrete morality. Cultures differ from each other, such as being individualistic or collectivistic. An approach based on individualism and autonomy does not represent a universality beyond history and cultures. This approach is one of conflicting paradigms, and it does not provide an impartial ground against others. A universally acceptable moral theory does not exist. Bioethical approaches representing particular moral theories and bioethical approaches supporting communication in multi-cultural settings must be distinguished. Bioethics has a need for using various sources, such as social sciences and theology, besides moral philosophy, and a flexible approach that is not limited with discipline and method boundaries, to help people from different cultures live together.