"Nature on the moral stage" was the title of an essay by philosopher Hans Jonas on human behaviour in and towards nature back in 1972. The interventions in the biosphere and the new possibilities of influencing future evolution with the help of genetic engineering point equally to the question of an ethics of nature. The "knowledge at our disposal" that natural science seems to provide is itself becoming an ethical problem due to the unforeseeable consequences of its application and the seduction of what is only apparently feasible. The field affected by bioethical questions is correspondingly large (see illustration).

The link between biologically determined statements and ethical considerations is obvious in the areas shown in the diagram and is also indispensable for biology lessons. The connection between biology lessons and ethics is not new. It is already predetermined by the educational mission of the school and the relevance to life of biologically determined topics, including sex education, peace education, health education and environmental education.

My work concerns both fundamental issues and the teaching of bioethics topics.
The key to sustainable animal and environmental ethics is the dual role of humans as part of and in relation to nature. In this dual role, humans, in their consciousness and with their technical skills, confront nature as creators and change agents and yet remain at all times and inescapably a part of nature as living beings. The central statement is that man, as part of nature, always participates in the whole of nature through his actions. However, if man is included in nature, then nature cannot be conceived without man.
Based on such fundamental considerations, teaching models have been developed, particularly on "racial problems", eugenics and animal ethics.

Kattmann, U. (2014). The rebirth of eugenics. Conjectures on the decline of intelligence. Mathematics and Science Education, 67 (8), 498-503.

Kattmann, U. (ed.) (2004). Genetic techniques in humans. Teaching Biology, 28 (291).

Kattmann, U. (1999). Who is afraid of cloning? Reflections on genetic engineering. In: Friedrich Jahresheft, 86-89.

Kattmann, U. (1997). Man in nature. The dual role of humans as the key to animal and environmental ethics. Ethics and Social Sciences, 8 (2), 123-131.

Kattmann, U. (1995). Language and consciousness. Teaching Biology, 19 (208), 49-55.

Dulitz, B. & Kattmann, U. (1990). Bioethics. Case studies for the classroom. Stuttgart: Metzler.