Wesley J. Smith
Encyclopedia
Wesley J. Smith is a lawyer and an award-winning author, a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism. He is also a lawyer and consultant for the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
, and a special consultant for the Center for Bioethics and Culture. In 2004 he was named by the National Journal
as one of the nation’s top expert thinkers in bioengineering for his work in bioethics. He is a critic of scientocracy
, "the trend to let 'the scientists' decide what is ethical and what our public policies should be".
Smith has authored or co-authored twelve books. He formerly collaborated with consumer advocate Ralph Nader, and has been published in regional and national outlets such as the New York Times, Newsweek
, Wall Street Journal, USA Today
, San Francisco Chronicle
, Seattle Times, the New York Post
, and many others. His is also well-known for his blog, Secondhand Smoke "http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/", which is hosted by First Things .
, which advances his theory of "human exceptionalism" and criticizes individuals whom he has termed "mainstream" bioethicists such as Peter Singer
, Julian Savulescu
, Jacob M. Appel
, and R. Alta Charo. He has also been highly critical of science writer Matt Ridley
.
and The Weekly Standard
. He closely followed the Terri Schiavo case
in 2005, and wrote frequently on the topic. He opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia. He is also a noted critic of mainstream views in bioethics, human cloning research, radical environmentalism
, which he worries exhibits "anti-humanism,", and of what he calls the radical animal liberation movement. His book Culture of Death: The Assault on Medical Ethics in America was named Best Health Book of the Year at the 2001 Independent Publishers Book Awards.
Smith is a frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, having appeared on national programs such as Good Morning America and Nightline, as well as internationally on BBC 4. He has testified as an expert witness in front of federal and state legislative committees, and is an international public speaker. He contributes a weekly podcast called What It Means to be Human, which is produced by the Discovery Institute. His work as a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute is with the Project on Human Rights and Bioethics.
Smith is married to the syndicated San Francisco Chronicle columnist, Debra Saunders
.
is a monolithic field. They argued that Smith was "prepared to bend the truth to make a point, turn a stomach, and potentially radicalize a reader." Smith rebutted these criticisms, stating in part, "Wynia and Derse assert that I claim bioethics is a monolith. That is not what I write. What I do believe is that bioethics has, generally, crystallized into an orthodoxy, perhaps even an ideology. I acknowledge that disagreements certainly exist within the field. But I view them, with some exceptions, as the arguing of people who agree on fundamentals but disagree on details -- sort of like Catholics bickering with Baptists."
International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
The International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide is a 501 non-profit educational organization that concerns itself with the issues of euthanasia, doctor-prescribed suicide, advance directives, assisted suicide proposals, "right-to-die" cases, disability rights, pain control, and...
, and a special consultant for the Center for Bioethics and Culture. In 2004 he was named by the National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
as one of the nation’s top expert thinkers in bioengineering for his work in bioethics. He is a critic of scientocracy
Scientocracy
Scientocracy is the practice of basing public policies on science.-Arguments for and against:Peter A. Ubel, an American physician, is a proponent of scientocracy. In an article titled "Scientocracy: Policy making that reflects human nature," he writes, "When I talk about Scientocracy, then, I'm not...
, "the trend to let 'the scientists' decide what is ethical and what our public policies should be".
Smith has authored or co-authored twelve books. He formerly collaborated with consumer advocate Ralph Nader, and has been published in regional and national outlets such as the New York Times, Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
, Wall Street Journal, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
, Seattle Times, the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
, and many others. His is also well-known for his blog, Secondhand Smoke "http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/", which is hosted by First Things .
, which advances his theory of "human exceptionalism" and criticizes individuals whom he has termed "mainstream" bioethicists such as 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...
, Julian Savulescu
Julian Savulescu
Julian Savulescu is a Romanian-Australian philosopher and bioethicist. He is Uehiro Professor of Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford, Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford, Director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, and Head of the Melbourne–Oxford Stem Cell Collaboration,...
, Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
, and R. Alta Charo. He has also been highly critical of science writer Matt Ridley
Matt Ridley
Matthew White Ridley, FRSL, FMedSci is an English journalist, writer, biologist, and businessman.-Career:...
.
Biography
Smith practiced law in the San Fernando Valley from 1976–1985, at which time he left law practice to pursue other interests, particularly as a public policy advocate. His first book in 1987 was The Lawyer Book: A Nuts and Bolts Guide to Client Survival, which was introduced by consumer advocate Ralph Nader beginning a collaboration between the two men. Smith is a prolific author, and frequent contributor to National ReviewNational Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
and The Weekly Standard
The Weekly Standard
The Weekly Standard is an American neoconservative opinion magazine published 48 times per year. Its founding publisher, News Corporation, debuted the title September 18, 1995. Currently edited by founder William Kristol and Fred Barnes, the Standard has been described as a "redoubt of...
. He closely followed the Terri Schiavo case
Terri Schiavo case
The Terri Schiavo case was a legal battle in the United States between the legal guardians and the parents of Teresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo that lasted from 1998 to 2005...
in 2005, and wrote frequently on the topic. He opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia. He is also a noted critic of mainstream views in bioethics, human cloning research, radical environmentalism
Radical environmentalism
Radical environmentalism, is a grassroots branch of the larger environmental movement that emerged out of an ecocentrism-based frustration with the co-option of mainstream environmentalism...
, which he worries exhibits "anti-humanism,", and of what he calls the radical animal liberation movement. His book Culture of Death: The Assault on Medical Ethics in America was named Best Health Book of the Year at the 2001 Independent Publishers Book Awards.
Smith is a frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, having appeared on national programs such as Good Morning America and Nightline, as well as internationally on BBC 4. He has testified as an expert witness in front of federal and state legislative committees, and is an international public speaker. He contributes a weekly podcast called What It Means to be Human, which is produced by the Discovery Institute. His work as a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute is with the Project on Human Rights and Bioethics.
Smith is married to the syndicated San Francisco Chronicle columnist, Debra Saunders
Debra Saunders
Debra J. Saunders is a conservative columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Syndicated by Creators Syndicate, her thrice weekly column is also carried by newspapers throughout the country and on townhall.com. Saunders also blogs for the Chronicle under the moniker Token Conservative...
.
Criticism
In a 2001 essay, physician Matthew K. Wynia and attorney Arthur Derse accused Smith of selectively using evidence to create a false impression that bioethicsBioethics
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....
is a monolithic field. They argued that Smith was "prepared to bend the truth to make a point, turn a stomach, and potentially radicalize a reader." Smith rebutted these criticisms, stating in part, "Wynia and Derse assert that I claim bioethics is a monolith. That is not what I write. What I do believe is that bioethics has, generally, crystallized into an orthodoxy, perhaps even an ideology. I acknowledge that disagreements certainly exist within the field. But I view them, with some exceptions, as the arguing of people who agree on fundamentals but disagree on details -- sort of like Catholics bickering with Baptists."
See also
- BioethicsBioethicsBioethics 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....
- The President's Council on BioethicsThe President's Council on BioethicsThe President's Council on Bioethics was a group of individuals appointed by United States President George W. Bush to advise his administration on bioethics. Established on November 28, 2001, by Executive Order 13237, the Council was directed to "advise the President on bioethical issues that may...
- Stem Cell Research
- EuthanasiaEuthanasiaEuthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
- Assisted SuicideAssisted suicideAssisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
- Animal liberation movementAnimal liberation movementThe animal-liberation movement, sometimes called the animal-rights movement, animal personhood, or animal-advocacy movement, is a social movement which seeks an end to the rigid moral and legal distinction drawn between human and non-human animals, an end to the status of animals as property, and...
- Human exceptionalismHuman exceptionalismHuman exceptionalism refers to a belief that human beings have special status in nature based on their unique capacities. This belief is the grounding for some naturalistic concepts of human rights.-Apologetics:...
- Baxter v. MontanaBaxter v. MontanaBaxter v. Montana, was a Montana Supreme Court case, argued on September 2, 2009, and decided on December 31, 2009, that addressed the question of whether the state's constitution guaranteed terminally ill patients a right to lethal prescription medication from their physicians.-Background of the...