Merril Pauls and Roger Hutchinson faced a challenging task in trying to describe Protestant bioethics in a 5-page article,1 and they certainly did not have the space to provide an adequate account of autonomy and freedom as values for those who are not traditionally religious.
Regarding autonomy, they state: “Many secular formulations emphasize personal freedom and argue that autonomy is best served by minimizing restrictions on individual choice. Protestants would argue ... that individuals must account for their personal relationships and their responsibilities to the larger community.”
This implies that the nonreligious (atheists, agnostics) are self-centred hedonists who likely act without regard for their responsibilities to others, including “the larger community.” Surely this is an incomplete and unfair representation of the views of a great number of secular ethicists.2,3
Secular humanists have formulated ethical views pertaining to personal freedom and the obligations an individual has to others. The humanist view is that a belief in God is not necessary for the recognition of our responsibilities toward others or for beneficence.4,5
Paul C.S. Hoaken Psychiatrist Bath, Ont.
References
- 1.Pauls M, Hutchinson RC. Bioethics for clinicians: 28. Protestant bioethics. CMAJ 2002;166 (3): 339-43. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- 2.Mill JS. On liberty. London: J.M. Dent and Sons; 1948.
- 3.Wilson AN. God's funeral. New York: W.W. Norton and Co; 1999. p. 45.
- 4.Kurtz P. Does humanism have an ethic of responsibility? In: Storer MB, editor. Humanist ethics. Buffalo: Prometheus Books; 1980. p. 11-25.
- 5.Bauer K. Freedom, obligation and responsibility. In: Storer MB, editor. Humanist ethics. Buffalo: Prometheus Books; 1980. p. 75-93.