Bioethics in the Education: An important debate

Abstract

This article seeks to situate initially as bioethics is understood in social and epistemological terms nowadays, showing that their presence in Brazilian basic education is still in its embryonic stages. It then looks at some propositions present in documents widely recognized in the field of bioethics debate, seeking to show that from them several discussions can be conducted. Finally, considering the rapid technological and scientifi c changes within the life sciences and the emergence of controversial issues, like euthanasia, and sexual and reproductive rights, supports the inclusion of bioethics debates in school education, especially in high school. This insertion is thought in interdisciplinary terms so as to involve teachers from different disciplines and enable current thematic approach that should not be ignored in the intellectual and moral formation of students. The theoretical-methodological support is the approach of ethics made by Chaïm Perelman based on a pluralistic perspective, which highlights the importance of the argumentative procedures in the confrontation between conflicting views.

Key words: Bioethics, high school, interdisciplinary, dialogical and argumentative procedures.