ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Bioethics is a new subject of study that joins biological knowledge with the awareness of systems related to human values. The historical evolution of the term will be described, starting from the initial scope mainly restricted to the biomedical field, until its widening to enclose the features and problems of life of all species including humans and their relationships with ecosystems. Global bioethics, as it has also been named according to this broader meaning, is linked to the concept of sustainable development. Thus, the latter acquires a bioethical dimension indispensable for the fulfillment of its own purpose. The objective of this chapter is to contribute to the understanding of the relationships between the two important concepts that concern all humankind, i.e. bioethics and sustainable development. In order to appreciate how the former may contribute to the latter some particular situations will be analyzed in three separate ethical dimensions. One, concerning the international relations chiefly regulated by the instruments of international law; another one which concerns the intertemporal relations among human beings, and a third one regarding the relationships among diverse types of living beings. As concluding remarks, some reflections are stated to emphasize the importance of guiding sustainable development with solid ethical values and principles. Also, we consider the role(s) of these in the advancement of science and technology as linked to the lives of humans and all other species. Finally, the role played by bioethics is pointed out, stressing the need for the establishment of education regarding sustainability and the promotion of a culture of harmony.
