Bioethics in Italy: two reasons of discontent

Abstract

The article offers an analysis of the Italian situation in the field of bioethics. It is argued that two main reasons account for the negative judgment that can be passed on this situation. On the one side, the lack of a unified language and a common ground of discussion in Italian bioethics is explained by the fact that scholars from many different fields have participated in the debate, with no genuine effort to transcend the boundaries of their respective fields of specialisation; on the other side, the fact that the Italian debate is in fact a sort of dialogue of the deaf is traced to the problem of ideological conflict, and in particular of the lingering cultural and political relevance of the Catholic/secular divide. In the last section a few suggestions are offered with a view to bettering the prospects of the field.