Bioethics (PHIL 165 Section 002)

This course introduces students to a range of moral questions that typically fall under the rubric of “Bioethics.” We shall focus on three main groups of issues. First, we shall examine central ethical issues that pertain to the beginnings of life (abortion, reproductive technologies, genetic modification, human cloning) and the end of life (the definition of death, forgoing life-sustaining treatment, and euthanasia). Second, we shall examine 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 or individuals have moral obligations to provide food or medicine to poor countries or poor individuals in distant lands? Third, we shall examine issues pertaining to the moral responsibilities of medical researchers and professionals: conflicts between paternalism and autonomy, informed consent and truthfulness.

Dan Moseley’s webpage