SOLIDARY DIMENSIONS OF BIO-ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN CROATIAN SOCIETY

This contribution investigates the solidary dimensions of bio-ethical challenges with special reflection on their situation and demands in Croatian society. The research unfolds in several stages. The introduction questions the state of today's cultural situation within which bio-ethical challenges emerge. In continuation, the paper investigates relations between social issues as a world notion and bio-ethical challenges that undoubtedly constitute a vital component of that issue. This is particularly evident in the context of interpreting and understanding bio-ethical challenges in light of the >> structure of sin << and the >> culture of death << that are referred to in some social and theologically-moral documents of the Church. In a democratic and pluralistic atmosphere in today's society, the realisation of the altered nature of bio-ethical challenges seems to be detrimental, particularly in light of the newly emerged awareness of freedom and autonomy of individuals and groups. In the background of previous critical thought and insight, further research in this contribution attempts to offer a basic framework for an ethical discussion of bio-ethical challenges in reference to solidarity, more precisely, solidary rationality, putting this challenge to Croatian society in context of current issues about social-ethical and legislative regulations concerning some bio-ethical challenges, specifically, moral and legal protection of human life before birth. In that context, some concrete demands of solidary rationality are posed to Croatian society with the aim of defining the obligations and responsibilities of some social factors with regard to the protection of human dignity and the right to life of human beings from the moment of conception to their natural death. Clearly, this includes some aspects of bio-ethical challenges that relate to the protection of human life while other challenges are left to some other discussion.