Beyond Bioethics: Toward a New Biopolitics

by Osagie K. Obasogie, Troy Duster (Foreword), Patricia J. Williams (Afterword)

For decades, the field of bioethics has shaped the way we think about ethical problems in science, technology, and medicine. But its traditional emphasis on individual interests such as doctor-patient relationships, informed consent, and personal autonomy is minimally helpful in confronting the social and political challenges posed by new human biotechnologies such as assisted reproduction, human genetic modification, and DNA forensics.  Beyond Bioethics  addresses these provocative issues from an emerging standpoint that is attentive to race, gender, class, disability, privacy, and notions of democracy—a "new biopolitics."

This authoritative volume provides an overview for those grappling with the profound dilemmas posed by these developments. It brings together the work of cutting-edge thinkers from diverse fields of study and public engagement, all of them committed to this new perspective grounded in social justice and public interest values.

546 pages, Paperback

Published March 13, 2018

Reviews

[Milton Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of critically important essays. There's something in this text for the novice as well as folks more deeply engaged with these issues. I could envision this becoming a go to source for high school and university level bio-ethics courses. Beyond Bioethics is engaging and thought provoking, well worth your time and money.

[Jessica Kaufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of this last year and finally finished the last part of the collection. This anthology gave me much to consider as I strive to teach anti-racist biotechnology courses and important examples to use in case studies. It also strengthened my belief that genes aren't destiny and that intellectual humility is key in understanding the role genetics does play.