title: [Methodological deficits in neuroethics: do we need theoretical neuroethics?].
abstract: Current neuroethics can be characterized best as empirical neuroethics: it is strongly empirically oriented in that it not only includes empirical findings from neuroscience but also searches for applications within neuroscience. This, however, neglects the social and political contexts which could be subject to a future social neuroethics. In addition, methodological issues need to be considered as in theoretical neuroethics. The focus in this article is on two such methodological issues: (1) the analysis of the different levels and their inferences among each other which is exemplified by the inference of consciousness from the otherwise purely neuronal data in patients with vegetative state and (2) the problem of linking descriptive and normative concepts in a non-reductive and non-inferential way for which I suggest the mutual contextualization between both concepts. This results in a methodological strategy that can be described as contextual fact-norm iterativity.
authors.affiliation: Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics, Neuroscience and Mental Health, Royal Ottawa Healthcare Group, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, 1145 Carling Avenue, Room 6467, K1Z 7K4, Ottawa, ON, Kanada, georg.northoff@theroyal.ca.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Northoff
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities / Q000941:ethics; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000941:ethics; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D019348:Empiricism; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics; D016743:Mental Competency; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009462:Neurology / Q000941:ethics*; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000941:ethics*; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values
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