The Interplay of Autonomy and Vulnerability: A Bioethical Perspective

The driving force behind the development of bioethics stems from a concern for the weak or vulnerability. Mainstream bioethics advocates understanding vulnerability within the context of autonomy, interpreting it as a lack or reduction of autonomy, and emphasizing the protection of special vulnerable groups. Critics question the rationality of this traditional model, arguing that interpreting vulnerability with the context of autonomy in bioethics not only ignores the universal vulnerability of humanity but also easily dilutes social responsibility. In fact, in the real-life picture of humanity, autonomy and vulnerability are always intertwined. With a proper understanding of autonomy, bioethics can still effectively interpret vulnerability within the context of autonomy. However, bioethics requires a holistic theory of vulnerability that emphasizes the protection of particularly vulnerable groups while embracing the broad, universal vulnerability of humankind.