The Question of Morality: Understanding Traditional Values in Medical Practices

Abstract

The article analyzes the transformation of traditional values in the context of modern medical practices. The basis for the study is the unconventional concept of values, where values are considered as transcendental guidelines that exist outside the framework of social agreements. The article specifies that these guidelines are subject to constant revision under the influence of technological and social changes. The article examines in detail key medical cases, such as genome editing using the CRISPR method, pharmaceutical experiments, and the introduction of artificial intelligence in medicine. The example of He Jiankui’s experiment with genetically modified embryos illustrates the ethical and philosophical dilemmas associated with the boundaries of scientific progress. Particular attention is paid to the biopolitical context of vaccination, where medical practice becomes a symbol of solidarity and control. The role of pharmaceutical companies in shaping discourses on values is analyzed through the prism of market logic and social justice. The author shows that traditional values such as freedom, mercy, and responsibility continue to be significant, but their interpretation changes depending on the context. Special attention is paid to the dilemma of the interaction between market rationality and humanistic ideals, which is clearly manifested in the problems of accessibility of medical technologies and drugs. The article notes the need for philosophical reflection to understand values in new technological realities, offering an integrative approach that takes into account both the universal and local nature of value orientations. In conclusion, the idea is put forward that modern technologies require a new moral imperative aimed at supporting the most vulnerable social units.