Ethicist speaks as part of lecture series
Published Oct. 22, 2004
Tuesday evening, medical ethicist William May gave the lecture, "Venturing Beyond the Limits of Professionalism: Toward Professional Creativity," at Monsanto Auditorium in the Life Sciences Center.
The lecture was the second in a six-part lecture series sponsored by the MU Center for Religion, the Professions, and the Public.
May spoke of the obligations of professionals, saying professions need "not only minimal rules, but towering ideals."
May spoke of the religious ethics in the professions.
He said the Western World faces an increasing environment of religious diversity, and the religious heritage of an institution should not lead to exclusionary practices.
For evidence supporting his thesis, May discussed the problems of several specific professions. Thes professions included health care and journalism.
Center director Ed Lambeth praised May and his speech.
"I thought he did an excellent job raising some questions about issues the professions face today," Lambeth said. "He highlighted the idea of professional creativity going over and above the basic skills needed."
May is a fellow at the Institute for Practical Ethics and Public Life.
He is also a professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia.
From 2002 to 2004 he was on the President's Council on Bioethics. He is the author of several books, including his latest, "Beleaguered Rulers: The Public Obligation of the Professional."
The center plans to release a book about this year's lecture series.
There will be one chapter per speaker.
The book is tentatively titled "Professional Creativity and the Common Good," and will include supplements from Lambeth, Jill Raitt, and Robert Audi, of Notre Dame. Martin Mardy of the University of Chicago will write the introduction. Lambeth hopes the book will be finished by 2006.
Harold Koenig will give the next lecture on Nov. 11 in the Lester Bryant Auditorium in the School of Medicine.
His lecture, "Religion, Spirituality and Health Care: History, Research, and Clinical and Societal Implications," is free and open to the public.