An Ethical Argument for Cosmetic Surgery

Arthur Caplan is the author of over 25 books and directs the center for bioethics at University of Pennsylvania. Last summer, he gave a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. The topic was a philosophical (and scientific) approach to the possibilities of true anti aging.

Early into the lecture, Caplan recalled a story about a middle aged woman who had gotten a facelift. A younger female counterpart had said of her, “that’s terrible, it is unbelievable that you would do that. You should just accept the changes as they come.” Sharing this story served as an introductory example of a common attitude present in many people to day; a “puritanical” outlook on medical technology.

In his philosophical argument, Caplan presents many reasons why we should use medical technology and pursue new discoveries in the science of stem cells. With adequate funding and a more informed public, it is possible for us to achieve methods of whole-body anti aging, through the regenerative capacities of stem cells.

You can listen to the lecture here on Minnesota Public Radio.