Learning Objectives

• Gain an in-depth understanding of the history, evolution, and challenges of bioethics, particularly its historical context, theoretical and anthropological foundations, and the practices of ethics and bioethics.
• Understand and apply the fundamental principles of bioethics, exploring bioethics as a field of knowledge, including its theories, domains, and methods.
• Critically reflect on ethics and axiology and their conceptual framework, particularly the concepts underlying human action (ethics, morality, action, intentional action, moral conscience, duty, law, deontology, and legal rights), as well as examine the development of Western moral thought, with a focus on Aristotelian and Kantian traditions.
• Analyse contemporary challenges to common morality, such as axiological pluralism and cultural relativism, and explore minimum and maximum ethics, including tolerance, respect, consensus, human rights, and common morality, as well as the specific characteristics of applied ethics.

Syllabus

• History, evolution, and challenges of bioethics.
• Historical context, theoretical foundations, and practices of ethics and bioethics.
• Fundamental principles of bioethics.
• Bioethics as a field of knowledge: scope, theories, methods, and principles.
• Ethics and axiology: concepts underlying human action (ethics and morality, action, intentional action, moral conscience, duty, law, deontology, and legal rights).
• Criteria of moral life: principles and norms, virtues and values, rights and duties.
• Philosophical anthropology and medical anthropology.
• Development of Western moral thought: Aristotelian and Kantian traditions.
• Specific characteristics of applied ethics.
• Ethics and society; contemporary challenges to common morality: axiological pluralism and cultural relativism.
• Bioethics within the framework of European values.
• Minimum and maximum ethics: tolerance and consensus; human rights and common morality.

Assessment

• Assessment will include both formative and summative components.
• Formative assessment will be continuous, based on attendance and participation in classes, debates, and seminars (10%).
• Summative assessment will consist of two components: continuous and final assessment. Continuous assessment will involve the analysis of feedback sessions during the preparation of an individual written assignment (30%). Final assessment will consist of an oral presentation and defence of the written assignment before the class (60%).
• Attendance and Participation (10%)
• Assessment of students' attendance and active participation in classes, practical case discussions, debates, and seminars.
• Criteria: Regular attendance, quality of contributions (demonstrated knowledge), and engagement in the proposed activities.
• Written Assignment (30%)
• Preparation of a written assignment on one of the topics covered throughout the semester.
• Criteria: Depth of research, clarity of presentation, originality, and ability to conduct critical analysis.
• Oral Defence (60%)
• Oral presentation and defence of the written assignment before the class.
• Criteria: Clarity and organisation of the presentation, mastery of the subject matter, communication skills, and ability to respond to questions.