Ethical views on the protection of life

The word “life” and its beginning represent a series of phenomena that relate to different areas. The explanation of this term, its value and its origin can be observed in biology, anthropology and also in theology. When it comes to the question of when human life begins, we find different answers, whether it be a religious point of view, claiming that life begins with conception, or bioethical or philosophical points of view. “Christian bioethics not materially equivalent to a secular bioethics appears particular and sectarian rather than universal” (Engelhardt 2000, p. 1). The question of the value of life is also consulted in various areas. In biology, life is a phenomenon that takes place in cells, in individual organs, and ultimately in the whole organism. From an anthropological point of view, we distinguish three aspects of life: its corporeality, its psyche and personality and also its social-com- munication aspect. From the theological point of view, human life is a gift that comes from God and is something sacred that deserves respect. Life is something that goes beyond our everyday life and leads to the foundation of the meaning of all life and our whole being. Since the beginning of rational thinking, we have been trying to explain life and its beginning to various philosophers who associate this issue with the relationship between body and soul. There are opinions on their indivisibility, but also dualistic concepts. We encounter here the theories of the immortality of the soul, the existence of the soul according to Plato but we also find opinions on the non-existent soul. This relationship of body and soul is most important at the critical points of our earthly life, namely its birth and death.