Jonathan Moreno, PhD

In this interview Moreno discusses his childhood and the intellectual influence of his parents, particularly his father J.L. Moreno, who was renowned for developing the therapeutic model of psychodrama and the idea of social networks. He discusses his philosophy graduate studies and shares how he became involved in bioethics as one of the first “staff philosophers” in hospitals early in his career. He discusses his gradual move towards government and policy ethics, including being on the staff of Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments (ACHRE) during the Clinton Administration; the Advisory Committee on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research for the National Academy of Sciences; Department of Defense consulting; creating “Science Progress” content as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress; and being on the Obama presidency transition team. Post-9/11issues of biosafety and bioterrorism are discussed, as well as his experience consulting on the ethics related to force-feeding, interrogation, and the different approaches of the CIA and Army regarding Guantanamo prisoners post 9/11.

Moreno reflects on being a senior advisor for the Obama administration’s Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, particularly the historical importance of the Guatemala syphilis experiments that added a new chapter to the history of medicine and bioethics. He also touches on the ethical implications of neuroscience advancements, such as brain organoids and synthetic brains. Moreno concludes with reflections on the importance of bioethics in a rules-based international order and his contributions to the field through accessible writing and diverse kinds of academic work and public facing endeavors.