Bioethics
This course will serve as an examination of several contemporary issues encountered in the delivery of healthcare, as well as the ethical theories and principles that shape our understanding and treatment of these issues. The will class will investigate such problems as the distribution of medical resources and paying for healthcare, determining the extent of a patient's right to both refuse and demand certain types of medical treatment, and the benefits and detriments of certain research programs, as well as potential solutions to these problems. Rather than begin the class with an introduction to the relevant moral systems and principles then proceed to address the issues just mentioned, ethical systems and principles will be introduced throughout the course in conjunction with the selected biomedical topics. This approach emphasizes the complexity of the questions at hand, and prevents an attitude of formulaic problem solving that occasionally accompanies applied ethics. Our point of entry will be the idea of the patient’s autonomy, which we will complicate and critique throughout the course.
Intro. to Ethics and Society: The Person and the Community
This course will consist of an examination of several moral theorists in the Western tradition, as well as an investigation of the implicit presence and explicit utilization of their theories in contemporary debates surrounding moral questions. In other words, we will consider current ethical issues alongside the historical texts in an effort to illustrate the predominance of ethics in our everyday lives, and use ethical philosophies to analyze contemporary problems. You are not expected to, nor are you required to, agree with all of the positions offered throughout the readings. You are expected to approach all of the readings respectfully, and to take all positions seriously. Contemporary problems to be addressed may include capital punishment, physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, the treatment of animals, and sexual behavior.