Coronavirus and value pluralism : a robust ethical perspective on a pandemic

Journal of Dharma 45 (2):261-280 (2020)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The fear of the largely unknown consequences of being exposed to coronavirus should have brought a more dynamic interplay of beliefs and opinions for those who in the footsteps of J.S. Mill believe that the limits of power, which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual, is to prevent harm to others. It is surprising that not much debate or critical interaction has taken place on the choice of locking down most of the populace in 185 countries after the outbreak of COVID-19. The general lockdown, instead of testing and isolating the sick, can be seen as ‘a gross usurpation upon the liberty of private life.’ The axiological and ethical question confronting philosophers relates to the type and degree of authority needed during this period. As Mill claims, no general basic liberties can be respected overall without some previous and gradual evolution, that is, before other more specific liberties have met sustainable social practice. This essay reviews some of the problematic situations highlighting that no society is free or can achieve the objective of a fairly pluralistic set of values without a given social practice of these values, and shows how this logic of spreading of values unfolds in the context of the Coronavirus crisis.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,386

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Being human in the time of Covid-19.Johann-Albrecht Meylahn - 2020 - HTS Theological Studies 76 (1).
All People.Greg Kaebnick - 2020 - Hastings Center Report 50 (2):2-2.
Ethics in a time of coronavirus.Kenneth Boyd - 2020 - Journal of Medical Ethics 46 (5):285-286.
Chinese Bioethicists Speak Out on Covid‐19, and Others Follow.Susan Gilbert - 2020 - Hastings Center Report 50 (2):inside_front_cover-inside_front_.

Analytics

Added to PP
2020-05-26

Downloads
67 (#238,510)

6 months
7 (#418,426)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Ignace Haaz
University of Geneva (PhD)

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

The Holistic Health Movement: A Survey and Critique.L. Kopelman & J. Moskop - 1981 - Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 6 (2):209-235.

Add more references