Programska knjižnica 9. Lošinjskih dana bioetike - Hrvatsko ...

losophy, psychology, etc. Different meanings are attributed to the body
with regards to different contexts, as well as to the subjects who ascribe
the meanings. This is important to take into consideration, especially when
examining issues regarding the relation towards life within bioethical perspective
– abortion, euthanasia, death penalty, disability, etc. The paper
therefore places particular emphasis on the human body as the key component
of the nature/human dichotomy integral to bioethical considerations.
The body is observed through three main categories in contemporary scientific
theory:
a) the body as an object (law, medicine, theology; regulated, institutionalized
power over the body; e.g. Foucault, Descartes);
b) the body as an abject (psychology, belief systems; spiritual, psychological
power over the body; Douglas); and
c) the body as a subject (integrative disciplines, connection between
the body and the mind; body as self-constructed, self-regulated;
Gregan, 2006).
The main thesis of the paper is that, only with the understanding of
the ways in which different groups approach the body, the meanings they
attribute to it, and how they (mis)use it, we can better understand different
attitudes in bioethical discussions, and truly develop bioethics as an integrative
discipline.
Furthermore, the symbolism of the body can be widened to include
the symbolism of animal bodies, as well as plants (Visković, 1996; 2001;
2009). Symbolism, inherent only to humans, is crucial in the understanding
of selves and our natural environment, because a group makes its decisions
on generally accepted meanings. Only with the understanding of the
symbolism of the body, as the basis of the relation of different disciplines
towards the issues of life, we can enter into deeper discussions regarding
contemporary bioethical issues.
LJUDSKO TIJELO I INTEGRATIVNA BIOETIKA
Značenje tijela kao simboličkog konstrukta
Ljudsko tijelo je različito shvaćano kroz povijest, kako tijekom razvoja
suvremenog post-industrijskog društva tako i kroz povijesne promjene drugih
društava i kultura. Također, načini na koje razumijevamo i pristupamo
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