Philosophy Dept., Drexel University

James A. Stieb is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor of Philosophy at Drexel University. He has nearly 10 years of experience teaching Ethics, Applied Ethics, Logic and Critical Reasoning. Dr. Stieb received his undergraduate degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College, and in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his doctoral degree in philosophy from Temple University. His current research interests include supporting the equation of virtue ethics and ethical egoism, showing that there are no inevitable conflicts in loyalty, and in general showing the relevance of philosophy and metaphysics to large organizations.  He has authored a number of articles in professional ethics journals as well as some in metaphysics and legal theory.  A recent sample is “Moral Realism and Kantian Constructivism” which appeared in the Ratio Juris 19.4 (December, 2006).

This paper worries the lack of philosophical training in bioethics and the separation from philosophy found within the commitment to international treaties and covenants governing human rights.  Such commitment, though undeniably essential does not hold “the key to the future success of bioethics.” (Caplan 2005, 2724).  While the wish to proceduralize, institutionalize and politicize is perfectly understandable, and perhaps inevitable, bioethics education and training must avoid these.  Reviewing George Annas’ American Bioethics, this paper argues that the marginalization of other forms of ethics to something that can be spelled out in a code or declaration ironically shows the American avoidance of the abstract and intellectual.  Witness surprisingly little argument for Annas’ view, the fact that the UDHR fails to help bioethicists with any of their problems including bioterriorism, human genetic modification, and poverty.  Finally, Annas equivocates on the meaning of “rights” by not recognizing, for example, property rights.