Retrospective DNA technologies and integrity for historical persons
Format
PhD project - Completed
Time table
September 2004 - 2010
Aims
The project investigates the question whether or not dead people in general, and historical persons in particular, can be harmed. With the substantial successes of DNA technology it is now possible to acquire genetic information from very old DNA. DNA-analysis could help to answer questions regarding historical persons, for example whether or not Queen Christina of Sweden was a pseudo-hermaphrodite. Should the dead be respected in these situations or are we free to satisfy our curiosity? What duties (if any) do we have vis-à-vis the dead and what would be the basis of these duties?
Publications
Masterton M, Hansson MG, Höglund AT, In search of the missing subject: narrative identity and posthumous wronging, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Online pre-publication 1 November 2010;doi:10.1016/j.shpsc.2010.10.010
Masterton M, Duties to Past Persons: Moral Standing and Posthumous Interests of Old Human Remains, doctoral thesis, Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2010. Buy book >
Masterton M, Hansson MG, Höglund AT, Helgesson G, Can the Dead be Brought into Disrepute? Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, 2007;28:137-149.
Masterton M, Helgesson G, Höglund AT, Hansson MG, Queen Christina's moral claim on the living – justification of a tenacious moral intuition, Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 2007;10:(3): 321-327
Contact and more information
- Malin Masterton, BSc, PhD
Supervisors
- Mats G. Hansson, Professor of biomedical ethics, CRB
- Anna T. Höglund, Associate professor of ethics, CRB
2010-05-12
Duties to human remains in universities and museums
On May 29, Malin Masterton will defend her doctoral thesis on the moral status of past people and protection for historical persons. The thesis also discusses our duties towards the dead.
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2010-05-11
Mänskliga kvarlevor på universitet och museer förpliktar
Den 29 maj försvarar Malin Masterton en avhandling om dödas moraliska status och skyddet för historiska personer. Hon diskuterar också våra plikter gentemot de döda.
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Mer information om disputationen (pdf) >
2009-09-07
On archaeology and ethical guidelines - Ethical considerations concerning reburial of old human remains
Malin Masterton, PhD student, CRB
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