Bioethical Ecumene: Need for Orientational Knowledge

Abstract

The notion of bioethical ecumene and a need for a change in the educational system is being elaborated in this study. A need for ecological enlightenment and ecological civilization has rose from the process of globalisation and socio‐ecological crisis. Its main component is bioethical education.
The relation between nature and culture is being observed through the notions of biotical and cultural ecumene. By colonizing the biotical ecumene the anthropo‐biotical ecumene is created – the world of colonies, which is systematically enlarged, so the already colonized in biotical and cultural ecumene is being re‐colonized. Those ecumenes have their material structures, but they lack the common spiritual structure. Bioethical ecumene is spiritual structure that connects them. With the progress in the modern era, the conflict between biotical and cultural ecumene is increasing too, in which the life, as a common good of all different cultures of modern humanity, is endangered.
Life is missing its sacral component, so the normative meaning of life is to be established.
This is possible due to adequate ecological and bioethical education. The educational system of modern society gives priority to education and not to upbringing, so it produces the educational deficit. The scientific knowledge (Wissenschaftswissen) is not effective enough to overcome the ecological conflicts, the orientation knowledge (Orientirungswissen) is necessary in this case. Bioethical education makes possible the orientation knowledge and overcoming the “culture of need” (Nutzenkultur) in favour of “normative culture” (Nornkultur).