Born in a Catholic environment and now offered to the secular world, the new Encyclopedia on Bioethics and Juridical Science published by ISE (Italian Scientific Editions) was edited by Elio Sgreccia, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life and former Director of the Institute of Bioethics at Sacred Heart University, Rome, and Antonio Tarantino, professor of the Philosophy of Law at the University of Lecce.
Every entry in this new Encyclopedia is subdivided under four headings: ethical, medical, Roman Law and positive modern laws. The bioethical aspect of the entries was supervised by the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Bishop Ignacio Carrasco de Paula. In today’s context, it is urgent to respond to the question of ethics in every sphere of life, allowing “the truth about the human being” to be proclaimed by many different voices.
Unfortunately, almost all the principal international periodicals on bioethics give preferential space to the voices that approach ethics from a utilitarian and reductive stance. The challenge is to break out of this narrow perspective by means of an instrument that is non-confessional and open, able to present issues in the light of the natural law inscribed in the hearts of all human beings.
It is hoped that this new encyclo-pedia will make an important contribution to the current debate on ethics.