E-path to dialogue: virtual environments as collective spaces of ethical construction

Abstract

The role of bioethics in promoting educative and deliberative spaces represents a demand to make the social inclusion of vulnerable groups viable. In this scope, and aiming to validate the method of applying deliberation in virtual environments, we carried out the third version of the “ O caminho do diálogo ” (The path of dialogue) action, which promoted, among older adults, a discussion about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the inclusion processes and, among bioethics academics, a debate on fragilities, ethical values, beliefs and potentialities of inclusion of animal protection, veganism, water crisis, mental health, multiple disabilities, refugees, homeless people, violence against women, sexuality and gender, and digital education. This article reports this interventions experience and discusses bioethics in the context of deliberation, intending not to formally work bioethics concepts, but to introduce the bioethical perspective by using interdisciplinary dialogue as a means of identifying vulnerabilities and debating solutions to promote inclusion.

Bioethics; Education; Deliberations; Social inclusion; Social vulnerability