Emmanuel Levinas and Michaela Marzano Face stading in the biotica

Abstract

This study examines the status of the human face in bioethics through a philosophical dialogue between Emmanuel Levinas's ethics of the face and Michela Marzano's reflections on the body and personal identity in the context of contemporary biomedical developments. It begins with a critique of technocentric and transhumanist approaches that reduce the human body to an object of enhancement and modification, thereby generating new ethical dilemmas, particularly regarding facial transplantation and genetic engineering. The paper argues that the face is far more than a biological feature or physical appearance; it constitutes the foundation of human identity, the locus of ethical responsibility, and the manifestation of the Other, whose presence calls for justice, respect, and moral accountability. It further contends that bioethics should not be confined to medical and technological considerations alone but must be grounded in a philosophical ethics that upholds human dignity, the inviolability of the body, and responsibility toward others, thereby reconciling scientific progress with fundamental human values