The structure of analogical reasoning in bioethics.
Med Health Care Philos
; 26(1): 69-84, 2023 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36350535
Casuistry, which involves analogical reasoning, is a popular methodological approach in bioethics. The method has its advantages and challenges, which are widely acknowledged. Meta-philosophical reflection on exactly how bioethical casuistry works and how the challenges can be addressed is limited. In this paper we propose a framework for structuring casuistry and analogical reasoning in bioethics. The framework is developed by incorporating theories and insights from the philosophy of science: Mary Hesse's ideas on horizontal and vertical relations in analogical reasoning in the sciences, Paul Bartha's articulation model of analogical reasoning and Daniel Steel's insights on mechanism-based extrapolation in biomedical research. Adopting our framework results in two practical benefits: it sets methodological standards for analogical reasoning and enables us to compare and evaluate diverging lines of analogical reasoning in a systematic way. Adopting the framework also has theoretical benefits: it helps to understand how analogical reasoning can have moral normativity; it pinpoints exactly where moral principles or theories enter analogical reasoning; and it helps to understand why casuistry is an attractive method in bioethics and in applied ethics more generally.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Bioética
Tipo de estudio:
Guideline
Aspecto:
Ethics
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Med Health Care Philos
Asunto de la revista:
ETICA
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Bélgica
Pais de publicación:
Países Bajos