81883 - Bio-Criminal Law from Ancient Times to the Present

Learning outcomes

The student acquires a complete understanding of the problems of bio-crime in criminal matters, from a technical and cultural point of view.

Course contents

The course deals with the history of euthanasia and euthanasia attitudes under the criminal profile from Antiquity to nowadays.

Key areas of the course are:

1. Euthanasia in Greek and Roman culture;

2. Euthanasia in the history of Christian culture;

3. Cases of Christian euthanasia;

4. Euthanasiastic attitudes in European popular customs;

5. The problem of palliative medicine (XVIII and XIX century);

6. The European debate on the legalization of euthanasia in the 19th century and in the first decades of the 20th century;

7. Euthanasia in literature.

Readings/Bibliography

M. Cavina, Andarsene al momento giusto. Culture dell'eutanasia nella storia europea, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015

Teaching methods

The lectures are oral, possibly providing space for debate and discussion

Assessment methods

The exam is oral.

For attending students is possible an optional 'test' at the end of the course and an optional little 'personal research', whose score will supplement the profit rating.

The following criteria will be used to assign the final mark (that will be out of 30/30):

- knowledge of a very limited number of topics, extensive support by the interviewer to address and answer the questions, basic yet appropriate language à 18-19;

- knowledge of a limited number of topics, ability to autonomously address basic legal problems, use of appropriate language → 20-24;

- comprehensive knowledge of the programme, ability to autonomously and critically analyse legal problems, use of specific terminology → 25-29;

- extensive knowledge of the programme, ability to reason autonomously and critically analyse legal problems, make connections between the topics, ability to master the specific terminology and ability to present legal arguments. → 30-30L

Teaching tools

Slides

Office hours

See the website of Marco Cavina