You’ve heard of half-wits. How about 5%-wits?
How can people function normally with only a fraction of a normal brain? The comfortable certainty of having at least half a brain is unshakable....
A wild swing at bioethics
Steven Pinker delivers a stiff uppercut to the whole field. A luminary at Harvard who is one of America’s leading intellectuals has aimed a haymaker at...
Only connect: the Pope’s global bioethics
Latest document causes media storm The publication of a document by Pope Francis on the environment on Thursday has created a media storm. Laudato Si’...
Peter Singer ‘disinvited’ from German philosophy festival
Protests by disability activists unnerved organisers Peter Singer is in hot water in Germany again over his controversial views. The Australian utilitarian philosopher began his...
Planning for a world with LGBT bioethics
Would it reach different conclusions? With same-sex marriage and the transformation of Bruce Jenner into Caitlyn Jenner in the world headlines, it’s time to ask...
Looking back: Daniel Callahan
One of the grand old men of American bioethics, he is a reminder of a broader and more communitarian view. The dominant view of bioethics...
New Pope. Old song.
No sign of relaxing Catholic views under Francis. The single most influential individual in bioethics, for better or worse, as he has as many fans...
Ever the controversialist: Peter Singer on speciesism
Is speciesism worse than racism? In a certain sense, yes, says the doyen of utilitarian philosophers. Is speciesism worse than racism? In a certain sense,...
Journal editor comes under fire
'Unfriends' Conservative voters on Facebook. The Journal of Medical Ethics received some unwelcome publicity last week when one of its nine associate editors announced that she...
Examining the last taboo
A Norwegian ethicist defends certain aspects of paedophilia, so long as it is not harmful. It’s hard to think of an activity with stronger moral...
South African judge defends assisted suicide ruling
A South African judge has defended a ruling he made in favor of assisted suicide. A South African judge has defended a ruling he made...
Canadian bioethicist attacks conscientious objection
No doctor should have the right to conscientious objection, says Udo Schuklenk. The Canadian Medical Association is digging in its heels to protect doctors’ right...