Citation

Schüklenk U. J. Med. Ethics 2013; 39(5): 303-306.

Affiliation

Ontario Research Chair in Bioethics and Public Policy, Department of Philosophy, Queen's University at Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6. udo.schuklenk@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/medethics-2012-100801

PMID

23637435

Abstract

This article analyses, from a bioethics journal editor's perspective, the threats to academic freedom and freedom of expression that academic bioethicists and academic bioethics journals are subjected to by political activists applying pressure from outside of the academy. I defend bioethicists' academic freedom to reach and defend conclusions many find offensive and 'wrong'. However, I also support the view that academics arguing controversial matters such as, for instance, the moral legitimacy of infanticide should take clear responsibility for the views they defend and should not try to hide behind analytical philosophers' rationales such as wanting to test an argument for the sake of testing an argument. This article proposes that bioethics journals establish higher-quality requirements and more stringent mechanisms of peer review than usual for iconoclastic articles.

Language: en