The Sanctity of Human Life

Klappentext Weaves a tapestry of evidence to conclude that the Jewish understanding of the human being as sacred! as the image of God! is in fact compatible with philosophical claims about the rights of the human person - especially the right to life - and can be made intelligible to secular culture. Zusammenfassung Weaves a tapestry of evidence to conclude that the Jewish understanding of the human being as sacred! as the image of God! is in fact compatible with philosophical claims about the rights of the human person - especially the right to life - and can be made intelligible to secular culture.

Autorentext

David Novak holds the J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Chair of Jewish Studies as professor of the study of religion and professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto. In 2006 he was appointed as a member of the Canada Assisted Reproduction Agency.

Inhalt

Preface 1. On the Use of Embryonic Stem Cells Normative Questions and Normative Contexts Philosophy, Politics, and Theology and Their Interrelations The Status of the Embryo in Current Jewish Discussion Natural Law in Judaism Three Rabbinic Texts Pertaining to Abortion The Embryo before and after the Fortieth Day of Gestation Law and Scientific Evidence The Beginning of Human Life Permission or Obligation? Political Realities Notes 2. A Jewish Argument for Socialized Medicine Universal Health Care: Canada and the United States Moral and Theological Problems with the Practice of Medicine Medicine as a Sacred Profession Medicine as a Calling Nonsectarian Medicine Notes 3. Physician-Assisted Suicide Theology, Philosophy, and Politics Who is Guilty in Physician-Assisted Suicide? The Physician Kills the Patient The Physician Orders the Patient Killed The Physician Orders the Patient to Commit Suicide The Physician Prepares the Patient for Suicide Suicide as a Reflexive Act Suicide and Personal Responsibility Public Philosophy in a Secular Society Suicide: Public and Private Society's Claims on the Individual Person Struggling against the Politics of Death Notes Bibliography Index