Lichtenberg-Kolleg workshop: Autonomy in Context

Law, medical ethics, theology and philosophy: Discussion around the self-determination of the individual in medicine


Is the individual in a position to decide at his own free will and autonomously? Is “self-determination” a normative construct or a factually demonstrable human ability? Can the concept of autonomy of the individual be applied as a useful instrument to biomedical practice, in particular in the current debate on topics such as in vitro fertilisation or euthanasia? These questions were the focal point of an interdisciplinary workshop where they were discussed under legal, medico-ethical, theological and philosophical considerations. The two-day event with the title “Autonomy in Context. The Normative Sciences at the Interface of Nature and Culture and the Self-Determination in Medicine” took place on the 14th and 15th of February 2008. It was held under the auspices of the Lichtenberg-Kolleg, which was established by the Georg-August-University as part of the Excellence Initiative for the promotion of research in the humanities and social sciences.





In bioethics the discussion around the “concept of a self-determined self” has since started to receive undivided attention. For instance, liberal bioethicists are demanding reproductive autonomy, meaning self-determination in questions of reproduction. This would for example include the right to in vitro fertilisation for post-menopausal women. An opposing argument – also from bioethical side – is that parenthood and family are amongst the important societal institutions of modern states and for that reason alone should not be allowed to be made solely subject to the freedom of choice of individual citizens. “A similar discussion can be found in the area of euthanasia”, states Prof. Dr. Volker Lipp (Centre for Medical Law), who initiated the workshop together with Prof. Dr. Claudia Wiesemann (department for Ethics and History of Medicine).

With the Lichtenberg-Kolleg – a central project in the University’s “Future Concept” - the Georgia Augusta aims to identify and extend important research ideas and activities in the humanities and social sciences in discussion with internationally-oriented researchers. Following the “traditional” Kolleg-concept, Göttingen’s Lichtenberg-Kolleg provides outstanding academics with the freedom for concentrated research, intensive academic discussion as well as interdisciplinary cooperation, all in one place.