Les problèmes de langue et les termes dans la théologie morale et dans la bioéthique
The Problems of Language and Terms in Moral Theology and Bioethics

Summary/Abstract: Bioethics is an interdisciplinary science. Consistent translation of some bioethical publications involves having wide scientific perspectives, it means a reference to biology, medicine, philosophy, ethics, law and theological sciences. The first problem concerns some semantic nuances of translated vocabulary. In order to translate a bioethical text, we have to interpret it correctly first. The author points out some words used in the Bible to describe a man and a woman. They show not only the sex difference but also equality, closeness, resemblance and identical personal dignity. To translate some bioethical texts, it is essential to know not only the technical terminology but also a bioethical procedure. We have to know some semantic and axiological basis of ethical systems as well. Such concepts as ‘person’, ‘norm’, ‘truth’, ‘nature’, ‘liberty’, ‘good’, and ‘evil’ are understood differently in our modern philosophical and ethical systems (e.g. in personalism, existentialism, utilitarianism, social contract theory, deontologism, consequentialism and proportionalism). Some semantic differences appear also in the vocabulary of Catholic moral theology before and after the Second Vatican Council. Next, the author discusses some religious and cultural factors of the language as well as their meaning in translations. The polysemantics, semantic and range fluctuation of bioethical concepts are some new challenges. Semantic diversity of the concept ‘euthanasia’ is a good example here. It is understood differently in some documents of the Catholic Church, Catholic moral theology and in the journalistic, medical and legal language. The translation of this concept, without a reference to the larger context, may give an ethical distortion of one particular publication and some false conclusions.

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