Penn Professor Jonathan Moreno launches Seminar Series

Jonathan D. Moreno launched the Berman Institute’s 2018-19 Seminar Series with his address, “Bioethics Is Advocacy: Is that So Wrong?”

Moreno is the David and Lyn Silfen University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania where he is a Penn Integrates Knowledge professor. At Penn he is also Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, of History and Sociology of Science, and of Philosophy.

He argued that modern bioethics is marked by the canonical ethical standard of self-determination, which distinguishes it from traditional medical ethics.  Thus it has earmarks of a social reform movement and, in some cases, an advocacy program.  I explain this cultural and historical progression, noting the origins of the field as deeply associated with the international system of law and human rights developed after World War II.