PHI 240 - Biomedical Ethics

Semester Hours: 4

This course will deal with fundamental moral issues that surface in regard to the medical community and to practices therein, beginning with an examination of the theoretical foundation for making moral choices. Initial focus will be on the divergent religious and philosophical positions that have been put forward to justify medical moral choices. Included will be an examination of both consequentialist and non-consequentialist positions, including Divine Command Theory, Utilitarianism, Kant’s categorical position, Buddhist compassion, and others. Once students are grounded in these differing theoretical perspectives, we will examine specific issues from alternative perspectives, giving students an opportunity to compare and contrast divergent positions. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).

Intellectual Perspective: RP