ABSTRACT
At first glance, Kierkegaard seems to be not very appropriate for contemporary debates about the life sciences. It therefore has to be shown in which way a theoretical engagement with Kierkegaards’ writings could be fruitful and important for bioethics. The present chapter will primarily justify the need for bioethics to engage with investigations in philosophical anthropology, before providing a discussion on the ethical relevance of hope and anxiety. Then, the chapter will engage with Kierkegaard’s views and their importance for contemporary debates before concluding with some final remarks. The chapter will not defend a substantial position but will rather plea for the need to engage in specific fundamental debates that are related to comprehensive views on what it means to be a human being.
