Breaking new ground in the philosophy of medicine and bioethics

摘要

I. INTRODUCTION: This nonthematic issue of The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy brings together nine articles within the philosophy of medicine and bioethics. The wide range of articles in this issue covers topics from diverse fields such as synthetic biology, doping in elite sports, and artificial- hydration and nutrition (AHN), to name a few. Although the essays are diverse, they are united in that each seeks to break new ground by incorporating fresh considerations into established positions. The first essay in this issue, for example, examines the philosophical ramifications of recent technological advancements in the field of synthetic biology. Here, new organisms such as oncomice challenge the concept of death in a way that has not yet been explored. Similarly, "May the Blessed Man Win" compares doping to gain a competitive advantage in sport to society's general respect for natural talent and comes to the novel conclusion that doping to artificially enhance one's athletic ability may sometimes be appropriate.