07654 - Bioethics

Learning outcomes

Introduction to bioethics from a philosophical point of view. Analysis and critical comparison with the fundamental topics of applied ethics and, in particular, matters of life and death or environmental issues. Reflection on the most influential moral arguments in the context of public ethics and acquisition by students of awareness and critical analysis skills on the central problems of bioethical relevance.

Course contents

Tragic Choices. The Dilemmas of Bioethics between Biological Life and Technology

The rapid development of technology has generated unprecedented situations that, by putting fundamental values and rights under tension, require difficult decisions to be made within the many grey areas that lie between the beginning and the end of biological life. These situations also expand the scope of responsibility in light of new frontiers in human subject experimentation, and raise challenging questions regarding our coexistence with emerging forms of artificial “intelligence.”

This scenario gives rise to a wide array of philosophical issues with both moral and legal significance. For example: When does human life begin? What is meant—morally and legally—by the term “person”? How should we navigate difficult end-of-life decisions? When is intervention in a fetus’s genetic makeup justified? Is the use of human enhancement technologies permissible? What are the ethical implications of the growing use of artificial intelligence in clinical and decision-making processes?

Starting from a core set of established questions and engaging with key authors in the field, the course is structured into four teaching modules, each focused on the most pressing frontiers of life and technology:
i) the beginning of life;
ii) the end of life;
iii) genetic manipulation and human enhancement;
iv) contemporary technology and artificial intelligence.

The aim is to provide students with theoretical and critical tools to understand and analyze tragic choices in the field of bioethics, fostering a reflection that combines analytical rigor with sensitivity to the nuances that shape the complexity of real-world cases.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography (compulsory examination texts):

1. R. Dworkin, Il dominio della vita (1993), Edizioni di Comunità, Milano, 1994 [due to the difficulties in finding the text, a digital copy will be available on the Platform Virtuale].

2. E. Lecaldano, Bioetica. Le scelte morali, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2005 (nuova edizione ampliata), capp. 1, 2, 3.

3. H. Jonas, Tecnica, medicina, etica. Prassi del principio responsabilità (1985), Einaudi, Torino, 1997, capp. 6, 8, 11.

4. J. Habermas, Il futuro della natura umana. I rischi di una genetica liberale (2001), Einaudi, Torino, 2010.

5. S. Vantin, Le metamorfosi della responsabilità. Tecnica, diritto, bioetica, Giappichelli, Torino, 2024.

Attending students must supplement the bibliography with lecture notes.

Non-attending students must supplement the bibliography by reading G. Anders, L’uomo è antiquato. Vol. 1: Considerazioni sull’anima nell’epoca della seconda rivoluzione industriale (1956), Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, 2003.

 

Additional optional further reading:

Beginning of Life

- P. Foot, The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect, in “Oxford Review”, 1967, pp. 5-15.

- J.M. Finnis, Abortion and Legal Rationality, in “The Adelaide Law Review”, 1970, pp. 431-467.

- H.G. Frankfurt, Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person, in “The Journal of Philosophy”, 1971, pp. 5-20.

- Judith J. Thomson, A Defence of Abortion, in “Philosophy & Public Affairs”, 1971, pp. 47-66

- M. Tooley, Abortion and Infanticide, in “Philosophy and Public Affairs”, 1972, pp. 37-65.

- M.A. Warren, On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion, in “The Monist”, 1973, pp. 43-61.

- C.A. MacKinnon, Privacy vs. Eguaglianza. A partire dal caso Roe vs. Wade (1983), in Ead., Le donne sono umane?, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2012, pp. 64-75

- J. Feinberg, Abortion, in T. Regan (ed.), Matters of Life and Death, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1986, pp. 256-293.

- D. Marquis, Why Abortion is Immoral, in “The Journal of Philosophy”, 1989, pp. 183-202.

- L. Purdy, Are Pregnant Women Fetal Containers?, in “Bioethics”, 1990, pp. 273-291.

End of Life

- P. Foot, Euthanasia, in “Philosophy and Public Affairs”, 1977, pp. 85-112.

- T. Beauchamp, A. Davidson, The Definition of Euthanasia, in “The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy”, 1979, pp. 294-312.

- L. Kass, Neither for Love nor Money. Why Doctors Must not Kill, in “Public Interest”, 1989, pp. 25-46.

- J. Finnis, A Philosophical Case Against Euthanasia, in J. Keown (ed.), Euthanasia Examined: Ethical, Clinical and Legal Perspectives, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995, pp. 23-35.

- R. Dworkin, T. Nagel, R. Nozick, J. Rawls, J.J. Thomson, T.M. Scanlon, Assisted Suicide. The Philosophers’ Brief, in “The New York Review of Books”, 1997.

- G. Dworkin, G.R. Frey, S. Bok, Euthanasia e and Pysician-Assisted Suicide (1998); trad. it. Eutanasia e suicidio assistito. Pro e contro, Edizioni di Comunità, Torino, 2001.

- F.M. Kamm, Physician‐Assisted Suicide, the Doctrine of Double Effect, and the Ground of Value, in “Ethics”, 1999, pp. 586-605.

- J.D. Velleman, A Right of Self‐Termination?, in “Ethics”, 1999, pp. 606-628.

Genetic Manipulation and Human Enhancement

- F. Fukuyama, L’uomo oltre l’uomo. Le conseguenze della rivoluzione biotecnologica (2002), Mondadori, Milano, 2002.

- N. Bostrom, Human Genetic Enhancements: A Transhumanist Perspective, in “The Journal of Value Inquiry”, 2003, pp. 493-506.

- N. Agar, Liberal Eugenics: In Defense of Human Enhancement, Blackwell, Malden, 2004.

- M. Sandel, Contro la perfezione. L’etica nell’età dell’ingegneria genetica (2007), Vita e pensiero, Milano, 2022.

- T. Douglas, Moral Enhancement, in “Journal of Applied Philosophy”, 2008, pp. 228-245.

- A. Asch, J. Block, Against the Enhancement Project: Two Perspectives, in “Free Inquiry”, 2011, pp. 25-33.

- J. Harris, Moral Enhancement and Freedom, in “Bioethics”, 2011, pp. 102-111.

- I. Persson, J. Savulescu, Inadatti al futuro. L’esigenza di un potenziamento morale (2012), Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino, 2019.

Contemporary Technology and Artificial Intelligence

- J. Ortega y Gasset, Meditazione sulla tecnica (1939), Mimesis, Udine-Milano, 2011.

- N. Wiener, La cibernetica. Controllo e comunicazione nell’animale e la macchina (1949, n.e. 1961), Il Saggiatore, Milano, 1961.

- A. Turing, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, in “Mind”, 1950, pp. 433-460.

- J. Ellul, La tecnica. Rischio del secolo (1954), Giuffrè, Milano, 1969.

- A Gehlen, L’uomo nell’era della tecnica (1957), Armando, Roma, 2003.

- H. Jonas, La cibernetica e lo scopo. Una critica (1966), ETS, Pisa, 1996.

- H. Dreyfus, Che cosa non possono fare i computer. I limiti dell’intelligenza artificiale (1972, n.e. 1979), Armando, Roma, 1988.

- J. Weizenbaum, Il potere del computer e la ragione umana. I limiti dell’intelligenza artificiale (1976), Gruppo Abele, Torino, 1987.

- L. Winner, Autonomous Technology. Tecnics-out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought, MIT Press, Cambridge (MA), 1977.

- J. Searle, Menti, programmi e cervelli (1980), Clueb, Bologna, 1984.

 

Teaching methods

All lessons will take place exclusively in person and will be recorded. Both attending and non-attending students will be able to view the recordings of the lessons, which will be available in a Team created and managed by the teacher. The recordings can be intended as learning support material.

Classes will be held in the first semester (September–December 2025). Any changes will be communicated by the teacher and will be indicated with a notice on the platform Virtuale.

As part of the course, a seminar-style lecture is scheduled with the participation of Prof. Vallori Rasini (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) on December 1st (1:15–2:45 p.m.).

Two additional optional seminar meetings will be organized outside regular class hours, in collaboration with the SIBB – Interdisciplinary Seminar on Bioethics and Biolaw:

- On Care, with Prof. Alberto Giannini on October 7th, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Aula Feste, Via Zamboni 22

- On End of Life, with Prof. Giuseppe Gristina on November 11th, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Aula Feste, Via Zamboni 22.

Exam sessions’ dates will be made available on Alma Esami. During the 2025/2026 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: December, February, March, May, June, July.

For any need or doubt relating to the course, please contact serena.vantin3@unibo.it

Assessment methods

Both for attending and non-attending students, knowledge will be tested through an oral examination.

"Attending" are those students who regularly participate in face-to-face lessons.

"Non-attending" are those students who do not regularly participate in face-to-face lessons.

Attendance signatures will not be collected during the lessons. Displaying the recordings of the lessons is not relevant for the purpose of being considered as an attending student.

The assessment will take into account the following verification criteria:

1. knowledge and ability to understand specific issues;

2. ability to apply knowledge, through the examination of specific topics;

3. autonomy of judgment, or the ability to re-elaborate information independently and personally;

4. communication skills, starting from the ability to communicate ideas and problems with a proper language and a good articulation of thought;

5. learning skills, i.e. correct acquisition of tools and critical judgment skills on complex concerns.

The purpose of the oral exam is to verify the student's ability to apply his or her own knowledge and to make the necessary logical-deductive connections.

Graduation of the final grade:

- Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher, expression in overall correct language → 18-19;

- Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and autonomous analysis skills only on purely executive issues, expression in correct language → 20-24;

- Knowledge of a large number of topics addressed in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology → 25-29;

- Substantially exhaustive preparation on the topics addressed in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and connections, full mastery of the specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflect → 30-30L.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

 

Teaching tools

For the benefit of (attending and non-attending) students, both the slides and the recordings of the lessons will be made available.

Office hours

See the website of Serena Vantin