Prof. Dr. Heiner Fangerau
Department of the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine
Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf
The international discourse about the ethics of stem cell research and application experienced a major shift during the last 15 years. It moved from fundamental ethical questions to a risk and opportunity centred frame. The examination of this shift is the main objective of this working group.
Based on guidelines, statements and research papers published in academic journals the group a) reconstructed why and how the discourse shifted from norms to risks and opportunities, b) examined the engines/main actors in twisting the discourse from norms to risks and c) discussed whether moral normative questions in risk/opportunity assessment can be seen as relicts of a value-rational orientation in a world of goal-instrumental action.