Bioethics: past, present and future

摘要

Our paper deals with the tension that exists in the very name of bioethics, the tension between the natural and the ethical components. We examine the origin of the name “bioethics”, some of its present practices and issues, and anticipate future developments of this growing field. The past and the present do not bring an accepted resolution of the tension in question, and our hope is that by focusing on its significance, further research can clarify and define the very identity of the field.