Citation

Fitzpatrick SJ. J. Bioeth. Inq. 2015; 12(4): 613-622.

Affiliation

Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Locked Bag 6005, Orange, NSW, 2800, Australia. scott.fitzpatrick@newcastle.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Bioethics Centre, University of Otago)

DOI

10.1007/s11673-015-9662-4

PMID

26615545

Abstract

As one component of a broader social and normative response to the problem of suicide, scientism served to minimize sociopolitical and religious conflict around the issue. As such, it embodied, and continues to embody, a number of interests and values, as well as serving important social functions. It is thus comparable with other normative frameworks and can be appraised, from an ethical perspective, in light of these values, interests, and functions. This work examines the key values, interests, and functions of scientism in suicidology and argues that although scientism has had some social benefit, it primarily serves to maintain political and professional interests and has damaging implications for suicide research and prevention.

Language: en