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If Marc is Suzanne’s father, does it follow that Suzanne is Marc’s child? An experimental philosophy study in reproductive ethics

Hens, Kristien ; Moormann, Emma ; Smajdor, Anna and Cutas, Daniela LU (2024) In Journal of Medical Ethics
Abstract
In this paper, we report the results from an experimental reproductive ethics study exploring questions about reproduction and parenthood. The main finding in our study is that, while we may assume that everyone understands these concepts and their relationship in the same way, this assumption may be unwarranted. For example, we may assume that if ‘x is y’s father’, it follows that ‘y is x’s child’. However, the participants in our study did not necessarily agree that it does follow. This means, at the very least, that we need to make sure all parties in a debate have the same relationships in mind when talking about reproduction and parenthood. Moreover, it gives us reason to explore more carefully the conditions which support or... (More)
In this paper, we report the results from an experimental reproductive ethics study exploring questions about reproduction and parenthood. The main finding in our study is that, while we may assume that everyone understands these concepts and their relationship in the same way, this assumption may be unwarranted. For example, we may assume that if ‘x is y’s father’, it follows that ‘y is x’s child’. However, the participants in our study did not necessarily agree that it does follow. This means, at the very least, that we need to make sure all parties in a debate have the same relationships in mind when talking about reproduction and parenthood. Moreover, it gives us reason to explore more carefully the conditions which support or undermine the connections between these concepts. This cannot come from purely theoretical reasoning, nor from empirical research alone, but from the alliance between the two. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
XPhi, reproductive ethics, fatherhood, gamete donation, genetic ties
in
Journal of Medical Ethics
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:39174294
ISSN
1473-4257
DOI
10.1136/jme-2023-109808
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0e77ff0e-67c8-47c1-80bd-d7ffe551de69
date added to LUP
2024-08-23 10:47:12
date last changed
2024-08-24 03:00:02
@article{0e77ff0e-67c8-47c1-80bd-d7ffe551de69,
  abstract     = {{In this paper, we report the results from an experimental reproductive ethics study exploring questions about reproduction and parenthood. The main finding in our study is that, while we may assume that everyone understands these concepts and their relationship in the same way, this assumption may be unwarranted. For example, we may assume that if ‘x is y’s father’, it follows that ‘y is x’s child’. However, the participants in our study did not necessarily agree that it does follow. This means, at the very least, that we need to make sure all parties in a debate have the same relationships in mind when talking about reproduction and parenthood. Moreover, it gives us reason to explore more carefully the conditions which support or undermine the connections between these concepts. This cannot come from purely theoretical reasoning, nor from empirical research alone, but from the alliance between the two.}},
  author       = {{Hens, Kristien and Moormann, Emma and Smajdor, Anna and Cutas, Daniela}},
  issn         = {{1473-4257}},
  keywords     = {{XPhi; reproductive ethics; fatherhood; gamete donation; genetic ties}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Journal of Medical Ethics}},
  title        = {{If Marc is Suzanne’s father, does it follow that Suzanne is Marc’s child? An experimental philosophy study in reproductive ethics}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jme-2023-109808}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/jme-2023-109808}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}