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<p>Considering the recent epigenetic studies on the transgenerational transmission of trauma, this article aims to 1) explore its ethical implications for the concept and nature of moral damage, and 2) offer normative suggestions on collective responsibilities both synchronic and diachronic. To do so, I first address recent epigenetic studies’ showing the crystallization of emotional information through generations, and second, defend that a unified approach to the concept of <italic>ghost damage</italic> may be useful to categorize this phenomenon, facilitate future research on this type of moral damage, and recognize its importance in the identification of hermeneutical injustice. Finally, I suggest that granting a right to transgenerational information may help avoid the perpetuation of inherited damage that jeopardize mental and physical health in the offspring.</p>
</abstract>

Considering the recent epigenetic studies on the transgenerational transmission of trauma, this article aims to 1) explore its ethical implications for the concept and nature of moral damage, and 2) offer normative suggestions on collective responsibilities both synchronic and diachronic. To do so, I first address recent epigenetic studies’ showing the crystallization of emotional information through generations, and second, defend that a unified approach to the concept of ghost damage may be useful to categorize this phenomenon, facilitate future research on this type of moral damage, and recognize its importance in the identification of hermeneutical injustice. Finally, I suggest that granting a right to transgenerational information may help avoid the perpetuation of inherited damage that jeopardize mental and physical health in the offspring.

Ethical implications of epigenetic studies: On <italic>ghost damage</italic>

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Ethical implications of epigenetic studies: On 

Considering the recent epigenetic studies on the transgenerational transmission of trauma, this article aims to 1) explore its ethical implications for the...

Ethical implications of epigenetic studies: On ghost damage

Published Online: Jun 06, 2024

Page range: 61 - 71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2024-0005

Keywords
moral damage, transgenerational trauma, epistemic injustice, epigenetics, emotional injustice

© 2024 Mar Cabezas, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Ethical implications of epigenetic studies: On ghost damage

Published Online: Jun 06, 2024

Page range: 61 - 71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2024-0005

Keywordsmoral damage, transgenerational trauma, epistemic injustice, epigenetics, emotional injustice

© 2024 Mar Cabezas, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
moral damage, transgenerational trauma, epistemic injustice, epigenetics, emotional injustice