The Ethics of Consciousness - Elements in Bioethics and Neuroethics

This Element examines the main ethical aspects of consciousness It argues that consciousness is not intrinsically valuable but has value or disvalue for individuals depending on its phenomenology (what it is like to be aware) and content (what one is aware of). These two components of awareness shape normative judgments about how ordered, disordered, altered, restored, diminished and suppressed conscious states can benefit or harm individuals. They also influence moral judgments about whether intentionally causing these states is permissible or impermissible and how these states can affect behavior. After describing its neurobiological basis, this Element discusses ethical and legal issues in six categories of consciousness: phenomenal and access consciousness; intraoperative awareness; prolonged disorders of consciousness, dissociative disorders, the role of consciousness in determining death; and altering and suppressing awareness near the end of life.

Product details

• Authors: Walter Glannon, Walter (University of Calgary) Glannon, Glannon Walter
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.06.2022
• EAN: 9781009078047
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0907804-7
• No. of pages: 75
• Dimensions: 150 mm x 240 mm x 10 mm
• Series: Print on Demand; Elements in Bioethics and Neuroethics
• Subjects: Guides > Health; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > General; PSYCHOLOGY / Developmental / General, Bioethics, Public health & preventive medicine, Bio-ethics, Medical ethics and professional conduct, Medical ethics & professional conduct, Public health and preventive medicine