07654 - Bioethics

Learning outcomes

asic knowledges, specific methodologies and critical abilities with regard to the most relevant bioethical issues.

Course contents

THE BODY AS BORDER AND AS FRONTIER

 

The course focuses on the concept of "the body as border and as frontier". 

In the first part, it deals with the history of bioethics (here the German philosopher Hans Jonas plays a paradigmatic role), a complex definition of it, and the principles of bioethics as argumentative discourse (first five weeks).

Then, it pays further attention to the concept of life in relationship to the idea of body from a non-naturalistic but olistic point of view. In this direction, Canguilhem, Sartre and Merleau-Ponty are relevant points of reference (sixth week).

In the third part, the course analyses two very different human conditions of life which nonetheless suggest a double meaning of "inviolability" of the body: euthanasia and torture (last four weeks).

This new idea of inviolability can be useful explained by the concept of limit in the sense of border and in the sense of frontier. 

 

An optional seminar on related case law will be offered by dott. Alessandro Chiessi.

On March/April Dr. Kinga Golus (University ofBielefeld) will deal a Seminar on "Ethics of relationships and emotions" which could be of great interest for students of Bioethics. More informations will be given in class.

 

Class Schedule

I semester

mon, tue, wed

5-7 p.m., classroom IV (Zamboni, 38)

starting date: sept. 24th, 2018

Readings/Bibliography

Hans Jonas, Tecnica, medicina ed etica, Turin, Einaudi, 1997 (chap. I-VII).

Marina Lalatta Costerbosa, Una bioetica degli argomenti, Turin, Giappichelli, 2012.

 

Georges Canguilhem, Il normale e il patologico, Einaudi, Turin, 1998, Part II, chap. I-IV, pp. 87-191.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty, La fenomenologia della percezione, Milan, Bompiani, 2003, Part I, chap. I-IV, pp. 111-219.

 

Ronald Dworkin, Life's Dominion, 1993 (chap. I, III, VII, VIII).

Marina Lalatta Costerbosa, Il silenzio della tortura, Rome, DeriveApprodi, 2016.

 

This program is valid for both attending and non-attending students.

Students attending other degree courses can ask for an individual bibliography. However, this choice shall be optional.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars and discussion on bioethical themes.

Interdisciplinary seminars will be hold by experts working in the field.

Assessment methods

Final oral examination. Room 5.01 (str. Zamboni 38). On September there will be an examination schedule. 

Evaluating criteria:

1. Expertise; practical reasoning ability; critical competence.

Notes:

18-21/30 basic level

22-25/30 moderate level

26-28/30 good level

29-30/30 excellent level.

Teaching tools

http://www.governo.it/bioetica/ Žhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/biosociety/bioethics/bioethics_ethics http://bioethics.georgetown.edu/pcbe/ [http://www.governo.it/bioetica/%20%C3%82%C2%8Ehttp://ec.europa.eu/research/biosociety/bioethics/bioethics_ethics%20http://bioethics.georgetown.edu/pcbe/]

Office hours

See the website of Marina Lalatta Costerbosa