Volume 52, Issue 3

The Hebrew Bible provides a rich language and manifold images of describing the beginning of life. It does not determine the status of the embryo in a technical way, but reflects general human experiences with the indeterminacy of prenatal life. Its attitude towards the beginning of life is always multi-dimensional, combining physical, personal, social and transcendental perspectives. The tension between theological explanations and human responsibility is reflected both in the Hebrew Bible and in modern bioethical discussions. Although texts like 1 Sam 1-2 and Ps 139,13-16 were written in a completely different context, their way of speaking about this tension shows parallels with current themes.

What is health? This question figures prominently in several ethical, medicinal and (health-)psychological issues. Against this background the paper investigates the definition and the understanding of health in Karl Barth‘s dogmatics in its theological framework. The reconstruction provides a model of health, which allows treating contemporary issues, because it presents a dynamic and relational model with several dimensions, including the dimension of will. The will to health, though depending on somatic, psychic and social conditions, plays an important role in handling with diseases, in living with imperfections and in supporting healthy lifestyle and preventive measures. This will must be interpreted as the will and the power to be a human being with its gifts and limits

The study investigates the »Four Principles of Biomedical Ethics« published by Tom Beauchamp and James Childress (1979, 52001) with a particular concern for the principle of respect for autonomy. The leading question is in which philosophical background autonomy is dealt with by Beauchamp/Childress and by the enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant, while the more emipirical theoretical framework of Beauchamp/Childress and the rationalistic framework of Kant are being analyzed. After having considered the foundation of autonomy both in Beauchamp/Childress and Kant, the study turns to the relationship of autonomy and human dignity by exploring the implicit extension of autonomy, human dignity and being human, and asks which consequences have to be drawn from a theological point of view.