Bioethics (PHIL 235)

Manchester University, January 2018 Instructor: Steve Naragon
Welcome! Course Objectives Course Requirements Writing Schedule Glossary Resources Philosophy FAQ Latin Phrases Make More Money! [Grading Rubrics] [Canvas] [Starfish] [Instructor Homepage] [Registrar] [Philosophy/Religious Studies Dept.]	Course Objectives Core Goals: This course satisfies the Core 4PH (philosophy) requirement, whose goals for the student are: 1. to discuss the approaches that philosophers take to fundamental human questions 2. to acquire the vocabulary and skills necessary to engage in philosophical inquiry, especially through developing your ability to understand and evaluate arguments. These goals are explained in more detail below. Philosophy is a discipline in the humanities; as such it is interested in goals rather distinct from those of the natural and social sciences — although philosophy also pays close attention to the findings of these other areas of human inquiry. For instance, a course in bioethics relies heavily on the biological sciences. Philosophy is concerned less with the accumulation of facts, than with the education of the individual. My primary goal — and the goal of the humanities in general — is to help each individual increase their level of self-understanding. This is not a small matter, and it lies at the heart of any human existence that is worth living. I should also note that I am using the word ‘self’ in its most expansive sense: not as an individual living in isolation, but instead as one whose very meaning depends on its relationship with those beings that surround it, both human and non-human. Exploring these many relationships is more important for understanding the self than examining the self “as such”. [You can find a brief discussion of the humanities here.] So here’s the deal: After three weeks of hard work, deep confusion, and more hard work, you should be able to: (1) explain many of the basic ethical issues and concepts surrounding health care; (2) learn to distinguish conceptual, evaluative, and descriptive claims; (3) demonstrate a basic command of logical reasoning and conceptual analysis; (4) critically evaluate arguments and beliefs — in particular, you will be able to think more critically about your own assumptions and beliefs; (5) apply the major moral theories in assessing the morality of actions, agents, and situations; (6) discuss with more depth, and with greater appreciation of different perspectives, some of the most pressing questions confronting each of us as human beings, such as: Is there an objective difference between right and wrong, or between true and false? (And if there is, can we come to know it?) How might we best get on with each other? Are there better and worse ways for organizing our communal existence? How might I live my life most fully? More detailed learning objectives are listed under each day on the schedule.
Manchester University // Registrar // Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies // Last updated: 9 Dec 2015

Bioethics (PHIL 235)

Course Objectives

Core Goals:

This course satisfies the Core 4PH (philosophy) requirement, whose goals for the student are:

1. to discuss the approaches that philosophers take to fundamental human questions

2. to acquire the vocabulary and skills necessary to engage in philosophical inquiry, especially through developing your ability to understand and evaluate arguments.

These goals are explained in more detail below.

Philosophy is a discipline in the humanities; as such it is interested in goals rather distinct from those of the natural and social sciences — although philosophy also pays close attention to the findings of these other areas of human inquiry. For instance, a course in bioethics relies heavily on the biological sciences.

Philosophy is concerned less with the accumulation of facts, than with the education of the individual. My primary goal — and the goal of the humanities in general — is to help each individual increase their level of self-understanding. This is not a small matter, and it lies at the heart of any human existence that is worth living.

I should also note that I am using the word ‘self’ in its most expansive sense: not as an individual living in isolation, but instead as one whose very meaning depends on its relationship with those beings that surround it, both human and non-human. Exploring these many relationships is more important for understanding the self than examining the self “as such”.

[You can find a brief discussion of the humanities here.]

So here’s the deal:

After three weeks of hard work, deep confusion, and more hard work, you should be able to:

(1) explain many of the basic ethical issues and concepts surrounding health care;

(2) learn to distinguish conceptual, evaluative, and descriptive claims;

(3) demonstrate a basic command of logical reasoning and conceptual analysis;

(4) critically evaluate arguments and beliefs — in particular, you will be able to think more critically about your own assumptions and beliefs;

(5) apply the major moral theories in assessing the morality of actions, agents, and situations;

(6) discuss with more depth, and with greater appreciation of different perspectives, some of the most pressing questions confronting each of us as human beings, such as: Is there an objective difference between right and wrong, or between true and false? (And if there is, can we come to know it?) How might we best get on with each other? Are there better and worse ways for organizing our communal existence? How might I live my life most fully?

More detailed learning objectives are listed under each day on the schedule.

Manchester University // Registrar // Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies // Last updated: 9 Dec 2015