Seventeenth World Humanist Congress

Date: June 6-8, 2008
Location: Washington, DC

IHEU in association with member organization American Humanist Association held the 17th World Humanist Congress in Washington, DC, USA on June 6-8, 2008. The Congress theme was E Pluribus Unum: Reclaiming Humanist Values.

On Saturday, June 7, 2008 – IHEU Appignani Center for Bioethics presented a panel entitled: Leading Bioethical Issues Today,convening prominent experts in bioethics and the medical sciences.

Biotechnology, nanotechnology, reproductive health technology, and the entire gamut of ever-advancing medical sciences have not only
afforded novel ways for solving old problems, but have also unveiled new areas of controversy. From face-transplants to IQ-enhancing genome manipulations, society faces plethora of choices but, unfortunately, little accompanying guidance on how to approach them.

The humanist bioethics perspective holds that careful analysis and ethical consideration can at least help frame and possibly make progress in conceptualizing and understanding many of these issues. This moral framework is informed by science and rationality, with the aim of promoting core human values such as freedom and autonomy, while recognizing that the needs of individuals and societies may often conflict, requiring resolution.

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