A bioethical perspective on ecosocial biomedicine in the face of the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century in Latin America

Abstract

This article proposes a new transdisciplinary approach to understanding health in Latin America, starting from the concept of life, distinguishing between Zoé (the pure biological process) and Bios (qualified life, with purpose and history). It argues that life is not only a natural process but also a cultural construct. Following this, the work focuses on the category of bioethics, which will serve as the foundation for reflection on ecosocial biomedicine. This emerging concept is defined as a model where human well-being results from the constant interaction between three pillars: biology, the environment, and social structure. All of this is intended to describe the challenges and opportunities facing the discipline in our region.