Metaphysics and medical ethics: a reply.
The total longitudinal form view of human beings is a metaphysical view which aims to locate our moral judgements about human embryos in a broader set of attitudes and characterisations. On this basis it has explanatory power and a real function in that it grounds our ethical discussion of embryos in other discourses. Contra Leavitt, this grounding suggests a broader criterion of relevance for metaphysical discussion than asking 'what comes out of' such a discussion for a particular ethical dilemma.
Bioethics Centre, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D028663:Ethical Theory; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D019369:Life; D008678:Metaphysics; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009014:Morals; D028723:Personhood