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`Sanctity of life´ and `human dignity´ are two bioethical concepts that play an important role in bioethical discussions. Despite their separate history and content, they have similar functions in these discussions. In many cases they are used to bring a difficult or controversial debate to an end. They serve as unquestionable cornerstones of morality, as rocks able to weather the storms of moral pluralism. This book provides the reader with analyses of these two concepts from different philosophical, professional and cultural points of view. Sanctity of Life and Human Dignity presents a comparative analysis of both concepts.

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Preface; K. Bayertz, H.T. Engelhardt, Jr. Introduction. Sanctity of life and human dignity; K. Bayertz. Part One: Sanctity of Life. The concept of sanctity of life and its use in contemporary bioethical discussion; J. Keenans, S.J. Sanctity of life, voluntary euthanasia and the Dutch experience: some implications for public policy; H. Kuhse. Value of life vs. sanctity of life - outlines of a bioethics that does without the concept of `Menschenwürde´; W. Lenzen. Sanctity of life and human dignity at the bedside; S. Wear. Part Two: Human Dignity. Human dignity: philosophical origin and scientific erosion of an idea; K. Bayertz. The general notion of human dignity and the specific arguments in medical ethics; M. Hailer, D. Ritschl. Ambiguities in the concept of Menschenwürde; D. Birnbacher. Human dignity and genetic tests; T. Petermann. Part Three: The Concept of a Person. The concept of a person in moral philosophy; L. Honnefelder. Persons as `self-originating sources of value´; A. Leist. Alterity and judgement - some moral implications of Hegel´s concept of life; M.C. Rawlinson. Part Four: Problems of Critical Care. Sanctity of life and Menschenwürde: can these concepts help direct the use of resources in critical care? H.T. Engelhardt, Jr. Not sanctity or dignity, but justice and autonomy: key moral concepts in the allocation of critical care; J.C. Moskop. Sanctity of life and the neonatologist´s dilemma; V. von Lowenich. The sancity of human life: Secular moral authority, biomedicine, and the role of the State; K.Wm. Wildes, S.J. On the appeal for the recognition of Menschenwürde in law and morality; M. Honecker.Appendix: The concept of human dignity: an annotated bibliography; B. Haferkamp. The sanctity of life: a literature review; G. Khushf. Notes on contributors. Index.

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Kurt Bayertz, geboren 1948, lehrt als Professor für praktische Philosophie an der Universität Münster. Arbeitsschwerpunkte: Ethik, angewandte Ethik, Anthropologie und politische Philosophie.

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