Bioethics (PHIL 165/001)

This course is an exploration into the field of bioethics, the branch of ethics that explores the ethical implications that arise in conjunction with advances in biology and medicine. Accordingly, this class is perfect for anyone interested in working or studying in the fields of health care, public health, biology, and others. We will delve into a variety of bioethical issues, in order to determine not just what we think of them, but why we think what we do, and how we should be going about bioethical inquiry. Accordingly, the course will be structured around three goals: (1) learning how to identify distinctly ethical issues, (2) learning which methods we can use to approach those issues, and (3) learning how to formulate and defend various stances on the issues. When we approach a problem philosophically, it is not enough simply to hold some position or other; we need to give reasons for our position by supporting it with good argument. We will cover a variety of topics, including the nature of health and disease, the relationship between health care professionals and patients, and others, depending on current events and student interests.

Jamin Asay’s webpage