Prof. Ali A. Moosavi-Movahedi at the “Science, Ethics and Innovation” Webinar: Bioethics, A Necessity for the Balance between Humans and Nature

At the webinar, Prof. Ali A. Moosavi-Movahedi, Chairman of the Department of Basic Sciences of the Academy, Head of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, and UNESCO Chair on Interdisciplinary Research in Diabetes, delivered a presentation entitled “Human Wisdom: The Foundation of Bioethics.”

Prof. Moosavi-Movahedi commenced his remarks by noting that Bioethics, from a philosophical perspective, can be understood as a profound respect for life and all living beings, together with an appreciation of the inseparable interconnectedness among human beings, nature, and other forms of life. Humans are not separate from nature; rather, they are an integral part of an interconnected living system. Therefore, human health and flourishing cannot be understood independently of the health and sustainability of the environment.

Prof. Moosavi-Movahedi further elaborated on understanding living organisms, recognizing their reciprocal relationships, and appreciating the impact of these relationships on human physical and mental health and on society constitute fundamental dimensions of bioethics. Accordingly, the human relationship with nature should not be based solely on exploitation and self-interest, but rather on balance, responsibility, respect, and coexistence. A wise human being is one who, in the pursuit of progress, maintains a balance between human needs and the inherent value and rights of other living beings and nature.

Chairman of the Department of Basic Sciences of the Academy emphasized this perspective should be cultivated from childhood and embedded in the earliest stages of education and upbringing. Teaching respect for living beings, as well as responsible attention to the non-living world, can foster conscience, compassion, wisdom, and a sense of responsibility. Such education can transform human beings from mere consumers of nature into conscious, responsible, and constructive members of the natural world.

Prof. Moosavi-Movahedi added that from this perspective, bioethics is not merely a set of principles within the fields of biology, medicine, and environmental studies; it can serve as a guiding wisdom for civilization and the ethical advancement of humanity. Some contemporary diseases are associated with industrial lifestyles, including diabetes, which may emerge, in part, from distancing ourselves from bioethical principles and from natural and balanced ways of living. Bioethical principles should therefore be reflected in policymaking, culture, education, legislation, and in the development of environmentally compatible sciences and technologies. Science and technology truly advance toward human flourishing when they serve healthy living, the health of nature, and the restoration of balance between human nature and the natural world.

Summarizing this perspective, Prof. Moosavi-Movahedi stated: Thus, bioethics can be regarded as a bridge connecting science, wisdom, nature, the environment, and human and social responsibility, a bridge whose purpose is to foster balance and integration between humanity and the living world and to guide civilization consciously toward a sustainable, ethical future and the advancement of human morality.

In concluding his remarks, he noted that it is therefore worthy that these principles be redefined and reconstructed across all scientific disciplines as a guiding wisdom, a foundational way of thinking, and a strategic ethical framework, and that they be reflected in education, research, science communication, and innovation.

To access the presentation slides for this lecture, please click here