Philosophy 164 - Medical Ethics
Fall
2018
06
4.00
Ryan Olsen
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
UMass Amherst
78230
Emerson House
raolsen@umass.edu
A survey of some philosophical topics in medical ethics, focusing on questions about (if ever) when medicine should be used to end life, and when it should be used to improve quality of life. (Gen.Ed. AT)
Open to RAP students in Perspectives in Health Topics in Emerson Hall. PHIL 164-06
See http://www.umass.edu/rap/perspectives-health-topics-rap
We will look at ethical issues that arise in connection with the medical profession, and we will carefully examine and debate arguments for and against particular positions. We will examine how the answers to these and other questions might be relevant to the way we live our lives every day:
(1) When is it OK to kill a person (if ever)? What if they consent to being killed?
(2) Is a fetus a person? If so, could it still be OK to kill it?
(3) Is it OK to choose to have a child without a genetic disorder? What about a child with blonde hair?
(4) Is everyone entitled to healthcare? What if they don't have any money? What if they don't live in the U.S.?
(5) Do we have to respect people's wishes, or are we allowed to do what's best for them even if they don't agree to it?
In addition, we'll talk about what makes for a good argument, and how to do a good job responding to bad arguments.
See http://www.umass.edu/rap/perspectives-health-topics-rap
We will look at ethical issues that arise in connection with the medical profession, and we will carefully examine and debate arguments for and against particular positions. We will examine how the answers to these and other questions might be relevant to the way we live our lives every day:
(1) When is it OK to kill a person (if ever)? What if they consent to being killed?
(2) Is a fetus a person? If so, could it still be OK to kill it?
(3) Is it OK to choose to have a child without a genetic disorder? What about a child with blonde hair?
(4) Is everyone entitled to healthcare? What if they don't have any money? What if they don't live in the U.S.?
(5) Do we have to respect people's wishes, or are we allowed to do what's best for them even if they don't agree to it?
In addition, we'll talk about what makes for a good argument, and how to do a good job responding to bad arguments.