THE CONCEPTS PERSON AND DIGNITY AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN BIOETHICS
/POJMY OSOBA A DÔSTOJNOSŤ A ICH VÝZNAM V BIOETIKE/

Miroslav ZUPINA

lecturer, Orthodox Theological Faculty, University of Presov in Presov, Masarykova 15, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia, miroslav.zupina@unipo.sk, 00421517724729

Abstract

The present study explores the concepts person and dignity on the basis of biblical and patristic tradition of the Church and highlights the need for their proper understanding also with respect to continued progress in science, biotechnology and medicine. The area of bioethics, in particular, represents the intersection of a number of scientific and technical discussions, seeking answers to important anthropological questions. These are directly related to the definition of man as a living being, its origin and roots. Orthodox anthropology understands the human being as a person and work with the fact that every person is being created in the image and likeness of his Creator, while giving a great emphasis on its uniqueness, unrepeatability and individuality. This contribution attempts to give an appropriate argumentation support for the idea that the embryo is under Orthodox anthropology a full human being, i.e. a man and a person from the very first moment of conception, and thus he has also the right for an adequate dignity. This particular dignity advocates that thehuman person even at this stage of embryonic development should be given an appropriate relationship, namely as to the target, rather than to a mere means that can be used for experimentation.

Keywords

Bioethics, anthropology, man, person, dignity, value, embryo

(Language: slovak)

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