Questions of life and death
Justin Oakley
12 points
* 2 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton
*
Prerequisite: HBM5101 or equivalent
Objectives On completion of this subject students should have uncovered a variety of important ethical and philosophical questions underlying discussions of issues regarding the beginning and the end of life, and new reproductive and biomedical technologies; drawn on different ethical theories to analyse these ethical and philosophical issues in detail, and therefore be able to make informed judgements about the ethics of certain biomedical technologies, clinical practices, and decisions regarding the beginning and end of life.
Synopsis This subject examines a variety of ethical issues concerning the beginning and end of life, such as the morality of abortion, infanticide, and causing death. The subject also deals with the ethical problems raised by new reproductive research and biomedical technologies, such as embryo experimentation, genetic therapy and genetic engineering. There will be discussion of a range of philosophical problems which are central to these issues, including the sanctity of life doctrine, notions of potentiality, the nature of personhood, the acts/omissions distinction, and the definition of death.
Assessment Essay (4000 words): 50%
* Take-home exam (4000 words):
50%
Recommended texts
Glover J Causing death and saving lives Penguin, 1977
Harris J The value of life RKP, 1989
Singer P Practical ethics 2nd edn, CUP, 1993
Singer P Rethinking life and death Text, 1994
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