Bioethics

Bioethics, as the term suggests, is the ethics that concern the biosphere. We shall propose that ethics is what we consider it appropriate to do and that the biosphere is the part of material reality that is alive. Considering the many questions which have been designated as bioethical in the context they provide for each other we shall endeavour to explain the challenge they represent to the ?we? in terms of different evaluations of different aspects of the biosphere.
The life sphere concerns us directly in our body and indirectly in all living beings, sustained by ecological and political systems. The first part of the module therefore concerns the body and our ability to influence it by training, custom and technology. The second part of the module concerns the life sphere outside our bodies and our ability to cultivate and destroy it. Since biological life is the defining characteristic of the life sphere, central to all the bioethical concerns is the question of its meaning and value.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
-Discuss what is meant by the biosphere and by bioethics.
-Discuss the place of the human being in the biosphere.
-Discuss the nature of habit, virtue and vice, as means of addressing bioethical problems.
-Discuss how individual bioethical problems are related and can be addressed different ways.
-Discuss the meaning of biological life.

Teaching & Learning methods:
24 lecture hours (12 weeks X 2 lecture hours per week); 4 tutorial hours; directed reading, reflection, discuss and writing.

Assessment:
Continuous Assessment detail(s): 5% = Attendance at Tutorials 15% = Presentation 20% = Tutorial Essay-Assignment (c. 1,000 words) 60% = Final Essay-Assignment (c. 2,000 words)