Bioethical pluralism and complementarity.
This essay presents complementarity as a novel feature of bioethical pluralism. First introduced by Neils Bohr in conjunction with quantum physics, complementarity in bioethics occurs when different perspectives account for equally important features of a situation but are mutually exclusive. Unlike conventional approaches to bioethical pluralism, which attempt in one fashion or another to isolate and choose between different perspectives, complementarity accepts all perspectives. As a result, complementarity results in a state of holistic, dynamic tension, rather than one that yields singular or final moral judgments.
Grinnell
Frederick
F
Department of Cell Biology and Ethics in Science and Medicine Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390-9039, USA. frederick.grinnell@utsouthwestern.edu
Bishop
Jeffrey P
JP
McCullough
Laurence B
LB
D001675:Bioethics; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D028781:Ethical Relativism; D028663:Ethical Theory; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014481:United States