Human Dignity in Bioethics and Biolaw

The concept of human dignity is increasingly invoked in bioethical debate and, indeed, in international instruments concerned with biotechnology and biomedicine. While some commentators consider appeals to human dignity to be little more than rhetoric and not worthy of serious consideration, the authors of this groundbreaking new study give such appeals distinct and defensible meaning through an application of the moral theory of Alan Gewirth.

Deryck Beyleveld is Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of Sheffield and Director of the Sheffield Institute of Biotechnological Law and Ethics. Roger Brownsword is Professor of Law and head of the Department of Law at the University of Sheffield