Medicine,Morals,and Religion

Abstract

The search for “‘a moral calculus’ is the most crucial problem we have in medical ethics and medical care…. No longer can we turn to the teachings of Jesus or Moses for direct moral guidance. Things are not that simple any more. Medical ethics therefore has to become truly a social ethics, not a simple interpersonal morality. The world is so tied together now that even the words ‘neighbor’ and ‘stranger’ have become archaic. We even need a new ethical language.”