Hughes @ World Humanist Congress

17th World Humanist Congress 2008 - register now!
http://www.iheu.org/node/2803
http://www.americanhumanist.org/conference/

The International Humanist and Ethical Union in association with member organization American Humanist Association announces the 17th World Humanist Congress to be held in Washington, DC, USA
on June 6-8, 2008. The Congress theme is E Pluribus Unum: Reclaiming Humanist Values.

On Saturday, June 7, 2008 the IHEU Appignani Center for Bioethics will present a panel entitled: Leading Bioethical Issues Today, convening prominent experts in bioethics and the medical sciences.

Biotechnology, nanotechnology, reproductive health technology, and the entire gamut of ever-advancing medical sciences have not only afforded novel ways for solving old problems, but have also unveiled new areas of controversy. From face-transplants to IQ-enhancing genome manipulations, society faces plethora of choices but, unfortunately, little accompanying guidance on how to approach them.

The humanist bioethics perspective holds that careful analysis and ethical consideration can at least help frame and possibly make progress in conceptualizing and understanding many of these issues. This moral framework is informed by science and rationality, with the aim of promoting core human values such as freedom and autonomy, while recognizing that the needs of individuals and societies may often conflict, requiring resolution.