Course Essential Questions
- How do we determine the ethical boundaries of scientific discoveries?
- What challenges do we face when using traditional ethical rules to handle modern bioethical issues?
- How can we effectively communicate complex bioethical issues to the public and ensure informed decision-making?
- What ethical obligations do we have towards future generations when making decisions about resource management and environmental impact?
Course Learning Objectives
- Identify the scientific and technological advancements driving challenges around the four basic principles of bioethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
- Use critical reasoning skills to justify an ethical position and make informed decisions.
- Gather evidence from various sources to effectively communicate and support a claim or opinion.
- Apply ethical principles to real-world scenarios by analyzing case studies, proposing solutions, and considering the potential consequences of different actions.
- Engage in public debates to demonstrate active citizenship on bioethical issues.
Unit 1: From Conception to Completion: Fertility, Genetics, and Euthanasia (Weeks 2-4)
Week 1: Navigating the Maze: Foundations of Bioethics
Week 2: Designing Families: Genetic Screening and IVF
Week 3: Nature or Copy: The Age of Cloning
Week 4: Autonomy and Dignity: Euthanasia
Unit 2: Modifying Life: Genetic Engineering and Stem Cell Research (Weeks 5-8)
Week 5: The Human Blueprint: Genome Editing
Week 6: Frankenfood or Future Feast: Bioengineered Organisms
Week 7: Superhumans: Performance Enhancement
Week 8: From Embryos to Cures: Stem Cell Research
Unit 3: Beyond Borders: Public Health, Animal Research, and the Environment (Weeks 9-12)
Week 9: From Pandemics to Policy: Public Health Interventions
Week 10: Beyond Scarcity: Resource Allocation
Week 11: From Rights to Responsibilities: Animal Welfare
Week 12: Humanity and Habitat: Climate and the Environment
Unit 6: The Future of Humanity: Transhumanism, and AI (Weeks 13-15)
Week 13: Manipulating Minds: Cognitive Enhancement
Week 14: Machines Learning, Humans Questioning: AI
Week 15: Living in the BioEthical Age: Summing Up