Technoscience and Bioethics: Challenges for a Sustainable Future

How Scientific Developments Affect You

Technoscience: The Union of Science and Technique

Technosphere: The Habitat of Technology

Main Problems of Technical and Scientific Development

• Irrational or irresponsible use of technology, which could have devastating effects.
• The negative influence of industrial progress on the environment.
• Problems generated by biotechnology and bioethics (e.g., cloning or genetic manipulation).

Threats to the Environment

The main threats to the conservation of the environment are:

• Uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources and its consequences (desertification, deforestation, poverty, etc.).
• The destruction of habitats essential to the life of many species, producing a loss of biodiversity.
• Chemical and industrial pollution which seriously threaten the health of living beings.
• The use of potentially dangerous biotechnology in agriculture.
• Damage and changes caused by phenomena such as acid rain or the increase of the greenhouse effect.

What Is Sustainable Development?

Sustainable development is the ability to progress in all areas without destroying the environment. Responsible consumption is one way we can contribute to sustainable development. It means limiting consumption to meet essential needs to avoid excess, thereby reducing negative impacts on the environment.

Environmental Awareness

Environmental awareness: we are the problem and must be the solution.

• Principle of responsibility
• Precautionary principle
• Principle of self-restraint

The Challenges of Bioethics

Bioethics is the discipline that applies ethical reflection to the problems of medical research.

• The remaining embryos (IVF)
• Cloning
• Euthanasia: A dignified death for those who do not want to stay alive at all costs, including active euthanasia where the patient needs to be assisted by others to die.
• Eugenics

Solving Bioethical Dilemmas

Doctors are faced with dilemmas in which they need to make controversial decisions. Bioethics committees are composed of experts from different branches of knowledge.

Fundamental Principles of Bioethics

The problems of bioethics, like all ethical issues, affect the whole society and cannot be resolved in an area closed to experts. As citizens, we should form an opinion about these problems.

• The principle of beneficence (non-maleficence): Always seek the patient's welfare and minimize risks and damage.
• The principle of autonomy: Respect the will of those affected.
• The principle of justice: The benefits of medical research must reach all people.

Information Society or Manipulation?

It is very important that all citizens have access to plural and complete information if we want a society based on democratic values that defends life, liberty, and human rights.