Kidney Sale and the Challenge of Human Dignity: A Comparative Analysis of Quranic and Kantian Approaches

A controversial question in medical ethics is whether or not organ sale amounts to a violation of human dignity. To answer the question, we need to analyze various approaches to the problem of human dignity. In this paper, I focus on Islamic-Quranic and Kantian approaches to the problem, and examine...

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Main Authors: Rahim Dehghan Simakani, Maryam Khoshdel Rohani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Religions and Denominations Press 2021-12-01
Series:Religious Inquiries
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ri.urd.ac.ir/article_143280_13092b791baa8bfa29734fbbefcba4f3.pdf
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author Rahim Dehghan Simakani
Maryam Khoshdel Rohani
author_facet Rahim Dehghan Simakani
Maryam Khoshdel Rohani
author_sort Rahim Dehghan Simakani
collection DOAJ
description A controversial question in medical ethics is whether or not organ sale amounts to a violation of human dignity. To answer the question, we need to analyze various approaches to the problem of human dignity. In this paper, I focus on Islamic-Quranic and Kantian approaches to the problem, and examine the challenge of human dignity concerning kidney sale with a descriptive-analytic method. I show that, on both approaches, kidney sale per se does not compromise human dignity. Rather, it may as well protect human dignity and esteem. The key difference between the two approaches is with respect to conditions to be met in order for kidney sale to accord with human dignity. According to the Quranic account of human dignity, kidney sale will be compatible with human dignity and will thus be morally permissible if it is done for the sake of divine consent or satisfaction. However, on Kant’s view, kidney sale will be permissible when it is done out of respect for the law of reason, without involving any instrumentalization of a human being and his body organs. Other differences between the two approaches consist in the origin of human dignity, instrumental or non-instrumental view of the reason, and the extent of responsibility towards others.
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spelling doaj.art-d8ae89ff3e024778a7a7446463aaee1e2023-08-02T09:02:54ZengUniversity of Religions and Denominations PressReligious Inquiries2322-48942538-62712021-12-01102010712710.22034/ri.2022.185488.1331143280Kidney Sale and the Challenge of Human Dignity: A Comparative Analysis of Quranic and Kantian ApproachesRahim Dehghan Simakani0Maryam Khoshdel Rohani1Assistant Professor, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.Assistant Professor, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.A controversial question in medical ethics is whether or not organ sale amounts to a violation of human dignity. To answer the question, we need to analyze various approaches to the problem of human dignity. In this paper, I focus on Islamic-Quranic and Kantian approaches to the problem, and examine the challenge of human dignity concerning kidney sale with a descriptive-analytic method. I show that, on both approaches, kidney sale per se does not compromise human dignity. Rather, it may as well protect human dignity and esteem. The key difference between the two approaches is with respect to conditions to be met in order for kidney sale to accord with human dignity. According to the Quranic account of human dignity, kidney sale will be compatible with human dignity and will thus be morally permissible if it is done for the sake of divine consent or satisfaction. However, on Kant’s view, kidney sale will be permissible when it is done out of respect for the law of reason, without involving any instrumentalization of a human being and his body organs. Other differences between the two approaches consist in the origin of human dignity, instrumental or non-instrumental view of the reason, and the extent of responsibility towards others.https://ri.urd.ac.ir/article_143280_13092b791baa8bfa29734fbbefcba4f3.pdfhuman dignitykidney saleethicskantthe quranislam
spellingShingle Rahim Dehghan Simakani
Maryam Khoshdel Rohani
Kidney Sale and the Challenge of Human Dignity: A Comparative Analysis of Quranic and Kantian Approaches
Religious Inquiries
human dignity
kidney sale
ethics
kant
the quran
islam
title Kidney Sale and the Challenge of Human Dignity: A Comparative Analysis of Quranic and Kantian Approaches
title_full Kidney Sale and the Challenge of Human Dignity: A Comparative Analysis of Quranic and Kantian Approaches
title_fullStr Kidney Sale and the Challenge of Human Dignity: A Comparative Analysis of Quranic and Kantian Approaches
title_full_unstemmed Kidney Sale and the Challenge of Human Dignity: A Comparative Analysis of Quranic and Kantian Approaches
title_short Kidney Sale and the Challenge of Human Dignity: A Comparative Analysis of Quranic and Kantian Approaches
title_sort kidney sale and the challenge of human dignity a comparative analysis of quranic and kantian approaches
topic human dignity
kidney sale
ethics
kant
the quran
islam
url https://ri.urd.ac.ir/article_143280_13092b791baa8bfa29734fbbefcba4f3.pdf
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