Ethics
Gesina Stärz - Philosophin, M.A.
Hagnweg 2
D-83703 Gmund am Tegernsee
Phone: +49 (0)8022 / 70 46 537
staerz@nar.uni-heidelberg.de
Fellows: PD Dr. Stephan Sellmaier, Prof. Dr. Andreas Kruse
Ethics and dementia – Ethic implications for the solution of social challenges
Ethical problems, which develop in connection with old-age dementia result from the fact that people with dementia experience restrictions up to the loss of their cognitive abilities. Our anthropology and the deontological approach which form the basis for our rule of law are based on personal characteristics. If we look at people with dementia from the point of view of a personal concept based on the cognitive ability, questions arise regarding moral status. The thesis of this study is that there is no ethical theory at the moment which is able to solve the problems which arise with the progress of Life Sciences.
Ethical theories are based on implicit assumptions about human nature. These assumptions need a systematical analysis. They are based on an idea of man which is affected by the level of knowledge of the respective time. It has to be verified to what extent definitions like ‘dignity’, ‘moral status’, and ‘personal identity’ are included in a body-soul-dualism. Furthermore, it has to be asked - regarding the knowledge of the brain science - if the cognitive level can be examined detached from other levels, like the emotional or social level. It also has to be asked if the implicit assumptions about human nature are necessary or linked contingently with moral theories and in which context they stand regarding the moral scope of these theories. The examination of these questions builds the basis for a new ethical approach.
Vita
1987 - 1991 | Studium der Sozialpädagogik |
1991-1997 | Studium der Philosophie, Neue deutsche Literaturwissenschaft, Markt- und Werbepsychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München |
1991-1997 | Sozialpädagogin und Therapeutin an einer Fachambulanz für Suchterkrankungen der Caritas |
1997 - 2009 | freie Autorin, Texterin und Journalistin |
seit 2009 | Peter-Schilffarth-Institut für Soziotechnologien gemeinnützige GmbH und Kooperationspartner des Generation Research Program der Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München |
seit 10/2010 | Member of the NAR „Graduate Program Dementia“, Heidelberg University |