Urban Planning
esmail DALIR
Abstract
Highlights
- Citizens' bioethics is influenced by various dimensions of social justice.
- The habitual practice of bioethical principles is fostered through fairness.
- Commitment to alleviating the suffering of others is achieved through equality.
- Economic, social, cultural, and educational foundations ...
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Highlights
- Citizens' bioethics is influenced by various dimensions of social justice.
- The habitual practice of bioethical principles is fostered through fairness.
- Commitment to alleviating the suffering of others is achieved through equality.
- Economic, social, cultural, and educational foundations enhance the effectiveness of social justice in bioethics.
Introduction
Bioethics serves as a fundamental pillar in establishing a moral society and fostering a genuine sense of justice. Addressing social and ethical challenges is a priority for global institutions, including the United Nations, which highlights bioethics as a means to uphold human dignity and equality. A critical aspect of bioethics is its relationship with justice, particularly social justice, which involves the equitable distribution of societal benefits among its members. Bioethical principles must therefore encompass multiple ethical standards such as equality, necessity, capability, effort, and social needs. This study aims to assess the influence of social justice on bioethics and evaluate its realization across the urban areas of Ardabil.
Theoretical Framework
Potter posits that humanity faces a moral and ethical crisis, impacting not only socio-economic development but also the ethical integrity of society. Bioethics, in this context, serves as a corrective measure to realign individuals with moral principles. Rentorf and Kemp argue that justice should be the ultimate goal of bioethics and biological rights. Social justice, when framed through the principles of fairness, equality, necessity, and economic individualism, significantly strengthens bioethics by promoting respect, non-exploitation, benevolence, and fairness.
John Rawls' theory of social justice is foundational to this study, emphasizing two key principles: the principle of freedom and the principle of difference. The latter suggests that social and economic disparities should be structured to ensure equitable opportunities for all. In essence, "fair equality of opportunity" dictates that every individual should have the same chances of success, regardless of their socio-economic status.
Methodology
This study adopts an applied research approach with a descriptive-analytical method to explore the impact of social justice on bioethics in Ardabil. The degree of social justice realization was measured through four key variables:
Fairness (cooperation, benevolence, sympathy, compassion)
Equality (equal opportunities, freedom, elimination of discrimination, unity, respect for laws)
Necessity (security, participation, health and hygiene, education, equal share)
Economic individualism (domestic goods, economic freedom, private property, personal interests, competition)
Each variable was assessed using five indicators, resulting in a total of 20 items. A structured questionnaire consisting of 40 research questions, rated on a Likert scale (1=very little to 5=very much), was distributed to a statistically representative sample of 383 individuals drawn from Ardabil's population of 529,374, using the Cochran formula. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and Excel, and GIS mapping was employed to rank the urban areas based on their realization of social justice indicators.
Results and Discussion
Factor analysis revealed that the fairness variable had the highest realization level (16.95), indicating that cooperation, benevolence, sympathy, and compassion were the most influential aspects of bioethics among Ardabil’s citizens. The equality variable ranked second (15.27), reflecting significant social justice elements such as equal opportunities, freedom, elimination of discrimination, and respect for laws. The necessity variable (13.82) took the third place, emphasizing the importance of security, participation, education, health, and equitable distribution of resources. The economic individualism variable ranked lowest (13.73), suggesting that aspects such as private property, economic freedom, and competition had the least impact on bioethical considerations.
Using the WASPAS model, the urban areas were ranked as follows based on the realization of social justice indicators:
Region 1 - Qi 0.5393 (slightly above average)
Region 2 - Qi 0.4258 (42.58% realization of social justice in bioethics)
Region 5 - Qi 0.4099
Region 3 - Qi 0.3978
Region 4 - Qi 0.3803 (lowest realization of social justice in bioethics)
Conclusion
This study underscores the importance of integrating social justice principles into urban planning policies to enhance bioethics among citizens. Addressing social challenges through bioethics must be rooted in justice, ensuring that both individual and collective needs are met through equitable policies and practices. The findings highlight the necessity for targeted interventions to promote fairness, equality, and social well-being across different urban areas.
