Online Seminar – Lessons from Li: A Confucian Inspired Approach to Global Bioethics

Online Seminar:  Wednesday 28th January 2026

17.30 – 18.30

Title: Lessons from Li: A Confucian Inspired Approach to Global Bioethics

Professor Nancy S Jecker

Session Description:

Drawing on the Confucian virtue of li (ritual propriety and decorum), this presentation argues for greater tolerance, respect, epistemic justice, cultural humility, and civility in global bioethics.  We show how to translate these values into practice using the examples of abortion, governance of AI, and climate change.

Further reading: https://jme.bmj.com/content/52/1/50

Bio:

Nancy Jecker is Professor of Bioethics and Humanities, University of Washington School of Medicine. She holds Visiting Professorships at the University of Johannesburg and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  Dr. Jecker was elected President of the International Association of Bioethics (2022-2024) and currently serves on its Board of Directors.  Her current research focuses on global approaches to bioethics, justice in health and healthcare, and AI ethics. Dr. Jecker’s books include What is a Person? Untapped Insights from Africa (Oxford 2025); Ending Midlife Bias: New Values for Old Age (Oxford 2020); Wrong Medicine: Doctors, Patients and Futile Treatment, 2nd Edition, (Johns Hopkins 2011); Bioethics: An Introduction to the History, Methods, and Practice, 3rd edition, (Jones and Bartlett, 2012); and Aging and Ethics: Philosophical Problems in Gerontology (Humana, 1991).