Bioethics in China today

Professor David Archard (Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Queen's University Belfast, Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, and Honorary Vice-President of the Society for Applied Philosophy) will deliver a lecture on bioethics in China today. The lecture will be followed by a question and answer session.

Professor Archard will briefly introduce his own work with China over the years noting the exchanges between philosophers and the explorations of commonalities and differences in thinking.

He will then talk about the project funded by the British Embassy in Beijing which has been concerned to address the ways in which bioethics and law can inform the proper regulation of scientific research and practice in China. This project addressed a number of key issues in bioethics and did so against the background of continuing controversy about gene editing. The second phase will examine cross cutting themes in governance and regulation.

Professor Archard also hopes to discuss what bioethics in China and in the UK have in common and where there are differences what we can learn from them.

David Archard is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Queen’s University Belfast, having previously taught at the Universities of Ulster, St Andrews and Lancaster. He has published extensively in applied ethics, political philosophy and philosophy of law, especially on the topics of children, the family, sexual consent, and the public role of philosophy. He has been Honorary Chair of the Society for Applied Philosophy and is its Vice-President. For twelve years he was a Member of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, and latterly its deputy Chair. He is Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and a Member of the Clinical Ethics Committee of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

This is one of the events in the on-going China Forum Seminar series, hosted by the China Forum, Jesus College. The seminars, given by eminent speakers, cover a broad range of topics and disciplines.

Booking

This is a virtual seminar. Attendance is free. Advance booking is required by emailing: china-forum@jesus.cam.ac.uk.  Priority will be given to members of Jesus College and the University of Cambridge.