Metaphysics and medical ethics

• Published in: Journal of medical ethics Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 106 - 111
• Main Author: Parkin, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics 01.04.1995; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Applied ethics; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; Bioethics; Consequentialism; Debate; Decision Making; Ethical Theory; Ethics; Ethics, Medical; Kantianism; Logic; Medical ethics; Medical practice; Metaphysics; Moral particularism; Morality; Morals; Subtlety; Bioethics and Professional Ethics; Philosophical Approach
• ISSN: 0306-6800; 1473-4257
• DOI: 10.1136/jme.21.2.106

I take issue with Frank Leavitt's sketch of a pragmatic criterion for the relevance of metaphysics to medical ethics. I argue that appeal to the potential for confusion generated by metaphysical subtlety establishes a need for better communication rather than shows philosophical insight beside the point. I demonstrate that the proposed Criterion of Relevance has absurd consequences, and I claim that the relevance of philosophical doctrines, whether ethical or metaphysical, is best accounted for in terms of improved understanding.