Bioethics as an institutional mechanism of social control of modern scientific knowledge

Abstract

Bioethics as an institutional mechanism of social control of modern scientific knowledge

Nikulina M. A.

Incoming article date: 14.12.2014

The place and the role of bioethics in the system of social relations and interactions are shown in article. The bioethics as the formed social institute creates social mechanisms of ethical control of rapidly developing biotechnologies. Its syncretic and multilevel character gives the chance of "maneuver" in development of moral positions and adoptions of moral decisions not only in difficult situations of application of biomedical technologies, but also in certain sociocultural, medical contexts. The author comes to the conclusion that from the point of view of the social relations and interactions the bioethics corrects tension in relationship of science and society, axiological mechanisms of regulation of this tension, ethical mechanisms of realization of medical practice, defining the borders of a moral choice and moral responsibility, it acts as social control of modern scientific knowledge.

Keywords: bioethics, bioethical discourse, sociological approach, social relations, social interactions, institutional mechanism, social control.