Foundations, frameworks, lenses: The role of theories in bioethics

I explore the implications of the foundation metaphor for understanding the role of moral theories in ethics and bioethics and argue that its disadvan tages outweigh ifs advantages. I then consider two other. metaphors that mi g-ht be used instead, those of frameworks and lenses. I propose that the me taphor of lenses is most promising in providing methodological guidance for drawing on moral theories when deliberating abort bioethical problems.