Experimental philosophy and experimental bioethics: an estimate

Abstract

This research aims to investigate what is known as experimental bioethics, examining and denouncing
the sometimes unjustifiable shortcomings and simplifications in the corpus of the field. Some themes
are described: openness to reality as a philosophical requirement; relevance of data and priority
of concreteness; marked epistemological interest; link to cognitive, moral and social psychology;
prominence of intuition as a concept and as a function; approach to language, culture and statistics;
understanding and development of scientific themes by the working classes; regional and environmental
contextual sensitivity; and relevance of experimental thoughts as hypothetical scenarios that encourage
discussion. In this study, the main function of reason is considered without discrediting intuition,
feelings or emotions, and it is observed that the contradictions, exceptions and divergences typical
of experimental philosophy and experimental bioethics should not be interpreted as falsehoods or
inconsistencies, since they are part of the methodology and epistemology of experimentation.