Bioethics (PHIL 165.002)

We’ll begin with a broad overview of the general terrain of moral philosophy and we’ll examine influential writings on the nature and significance of life and death. The second part of the course examines central ethical issues pertaining to the beginnings of life (abortion, reproductive technologies, genetic modification and human cloning) and the end of life (the definition of ‘death’, foregoing life-sustaining treatment, and euthanasia). The third part of the course examines issues pertaining to the moral responsibilities of medical professionals and researchers. We’ll discuss the moral issues involved in the physician-patient relationship and in medical research on humans. The final part of the course examines questions of justice in the allocation of health care. Is there a universal right to health care? Are markets for human organs morally permissible? Do wealthy countries have moral obligations to provide food or medicine to poor countries or poor individuals in distant lands?

Dan Moseley’s webpage