La educación en bioética como clave para la democracia. Una experiencia docente en el ámbito universitario

Laburpena

From a personalist approach, education in bioethics can be considered as the optimal means for taking into account the developing of the capacities that Nussbaum (2010) considers necessary to live a flourishing life and, as a consequence, to keep democracy alive. The educational proposal in this paper is aimed at young adult students of health sciences degrees: students come in contact with people in a vulnerable situation and one of its effects is the genesis and proper development of the emotion of compassion; and hence in the commitment to the good of the other. In the context of university education aimed at the performance of a professional activity for the common good, we believe that education in bioethics should be based on the understanding of the inalienable dignity of every human person, regardless of the conditions or particular circumstances of their existence. In this sense, the approach and attention to people in situations of limitation or necessity may encourage the emerging of the ability to recognize the equality of all people as ends in themselves and not as means for other interests; as well as inspire the consequent responsibility towards the common good, an essential element for a real democratic society.