Using the expression "human dignity" in public documents discussing genetics: A theological contribution to the discussion of its meaning in light of the work of Richard A McCormick

This thesis is directed towards the goal of advancing ethical discourse in public policy development. It examines a piece of the public policy process in a specific instance---public documents discussing genetics and the use of genetic technologies. The documents considered are examples of a part of the process that raises values questions and issues in the public domain as an explicit part of a decision process. This project is about one value in particular---human dignity---which is used as one of the core values in virtually all public policy documents discussing genetics. Human dignity is an example which focuses our discussion on how the term is used, what is the content of its expression, and what is its meaning for those who make decisions. The thesis is not an exhaustive inquiry into the meanings attached to human dignity. In addition, the thesis will explore the meaning of the expression human dignity from a theological perspective. It will be argued that the theological perspective may serve to be illustrative of insights not noticeably present in the public discourse. This thesis is presented in four chapters. Chapter 1 presents a brief overview of the rapidly evolving science of genetics and the issues it raises in the public forum. Chapter 2 is a more detailed examination of some of the public documents noted in passing in Chapter 1. It works with their presentations of human dignity and its importance in their presentations. Documents chosen are from public bodies in Canada, France, and the United States. We have chosen three documents from each country: one that deals with research involving human subjects, in that much of the technology in the field of genetics is presently at the level of research; one that deals with genetic testing; and one that deals with reproductive cloning. Chapter 3 attempts to bring some clarity in the use of human dignity through a brief sketch of the meanings attached to it, as well as its relationship with the term autonomy. Kant and Rawls are discussed and a perspective on their work from the point of view of Habermas, Virtue Ethics, Feminist philosophy, and the law as found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is included. Further efforts to bring clarity to the discussion of the content and meaning of the term human dignity is sought via a theological perspective represented by Richard A. McCormick. (Abstract shortened by UMI.