Centre for Human Bioethics
Encyclopedia
The Centre for Human Bioethics is a research and teaching centre at Monash University
, based in the Faculty of Arts. It focusses on the branch of ethics
known as bioethics
, a field relating to biological science and medicine. It was founded in October 1980 by Professors Peter Singer
and Helga Kuhse
, as the first centre in Australia devoted to bioethics, and one of the first in the world.
It became well-known during the 1980s as one of the leading bodies studying the ethical implications of the rapid advances in science and technology, such as in-vitro fertilisation. The Centre's founder, Peter Singer
, is probably the world's best-known bioethicist, and while Director of the Centre, he produced a number of ground-breaking publications in the field. This included The Reproduction Revolution, Should the Baby Live? and Practical Ethics
. He also founded the journal Bioethics
with Helga Kuhse
, and established the International Association for Bioethics.
Today, it continues its strong focus on research, but also provides undergraduate, postgraduate and industry-based education. It undertakes exstenive teaching to health professionals. It is particularly well-known for its Master of Bioethics degree, founded in 1989 as one of the first of its kind in the world. The current Director of the Centre is Dr Justin Oakley
, a virtue ethicist who was one of the first graduates of the Centre's Master of Bioethics program. In addition to their teaching and research commitments, staff from the Centre also carry out consultancy work for numerous government bodies and law reform agencies. The Centre has been influential in shaping public debate on issues such as assisted reproduction, surrogate motherhood, and end-of-life decision-making. The Centre is also home to the Monash Bioethics Review, the only peer-reviewed bioethics journal in Australia.
The Centre is part of an international network established by the University of Tokyo
to promote collaborative research and teaching links between eight of the world's leading bioethics centres, including the Hastings Centre in New York and the Ethox Centre at Oxford University.
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, based in the Faculty of Arts. It focusses on the branch of ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
known as bioethics
Bioethics
Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
, a field relating to biological science and medicine. It was founded in October 1980 by Professors Peter Singer
Peter Singer
Peter Albert David Singer is an Australian philosopher who is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne...
and Helga Kuhse
Helga Kuhse
Helga Kuhse is an Australian utilitarian philosopher and bioethicist. From the 1970s, she was one of the first philosophers to address the ethical implications of the developments in biotechnology and biomedicine. With Peter Singer, she founded the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University...
, as the first centre in Australia devoted to bioethics, and one of the first in the world.
It became well-known during the 1980s as one of the leading bodies studying the ethical implications of the rapid advances in science and technology, such as in-vitro fertilisation. The Centre's founder, Peter Singer
Peter Singer
Peter Albert David Singer is an Australian philosopher who is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne...
, is probably the world's best-known bioethicist, and while Director of the Centre, he produced a number of ground-breaking publications in the field. This included The Reproduction Revolution, Should the Baby Live? and Practical Ethics
Practical Ethics
The book Practical Ethics is an introduction to applied ethics written by modern bioethical philosopher Peter Singer. It was originally published in 1979 and has since been translated into a number of languages. The book caused outrage in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...
. He also founded the journal Bioethics
Bioethics (journal)
Bioethics is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International Association of Bioethics. There are 9 issues published each year, which are available both in print and online...
with Helga Kuhse
Helga Kuhse
Helga Kuhse is an Australian utilitarian philosopher and bioethicist. From the 1970s, she was one of the first philosophers to address the ethical implications of the developments in biotechnology and biomedicine. With Peter Singer, she founded the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University...
, and established the International Association for Bioethics.
Today, it continues its strong focus on research, but also provides undergraduate, postgraduate and industry-based education. It undertakes exstenive teaching to health professionals. It is particularly well-known for its Master of Bioethics degree, founded in 1989 as one of the first of its kind in the world. The current Director of the Centre is Dr Justin Oakley
Justin Oakley
Dr Justin Oakley is a bioethicist and moral philosopher. He has been part of the revival of the ethical doctrine known as virtue ethics, an Aristotelian doctrine which has received renewed interest in the past few decades....
, a virtue ethicist who was one of the first graduates of the Centre's Master of Bioethics program. In addition to their teaching and research commitments, staff from the Centre also carry out consultancy work for numerous government bodies and law reform agencies. The Centre has been influential in shaping public debate on issues such as assisted reproduction, surrogate motherhood, and end-of-life decision-making. The Centre is also home to the Monash Bioethics Review, the only peer-reviewed bioethics journal in Australia.
The Centre is part of an international network established by the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
to promote collaborative research and teaching links between eight of the world's leading bioethics centres, including the Hastings Centre in New York and the Ethox Centre at Oxford University.
Notable past and present staff
- Helga KuhseHelga KuhseHelga Kuhse is an Australian utilitarian philosopher and bioethicist. From the 1970s, she was one of the first philosophers to address the ethical implications of the developments in biotechnology and biomedicine. With Peter Singer, she founded the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University...
- Co-founder - Justin OakleyJustin OakleyDr Justin Oakley is a bioethicist and moral philosopher. He has been part of the revival of the ethical doctrine known as virtue ethics, an Aristotelian doctrine which has received renewed interest in the past few decades....
- Current Director - Peter SingerPeter SingerPeter Albert David Singer is an Australian philosopher who is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne...
- Co-founder, now Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.... - Chin Liew TenChin Liew TenChin Liew Ten is Professor of Philosophy and former Head of the Philosophy Department, National University of Singapore. Before taking up his appointments at the National University of Singapore, he was Professor of Philosophy and Acting Head of the School of Philosophy, Linguistics, and...
- Former Director, now Professor at the National University of SingaporeNational University of SingaporeThe National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....