Bioethics

Teacher(s)

Odak Stipe;

Language

French

Content

This course gives students an introduction to the main ideas of bioethics. Bioethics is an interdisciplinary field that looks at ethical questions about the status and rights of living beings, especially in relation to new developments in biomedicine. It examines the historical development of bioethics and explores the ways in which Christian theology engages in dialogue with it, with particular attention to issues related to the beginning and end of life, disability and autonomy, genetic and reproductive ethics, personhood and human dignity, as well as emerging technologies.

Teaching methods

The course is organized around lectures delivered by the instructor, complemented by active class discussions, which are an essential part of each session. The course may also feature contributions from visiting lecturers.

Evaluation methods

Evaluation combines continuous assessment (20%) with a final oral examination (80%). Continuous assessment requires a group presentation on one of the course themes and the written submission of an AI reasoning exercise. This exercise takes the form of a conversation log with an AI agent on a course-related subject, in which students are expected to demonstrate critical engagement by probing the system’s limits, biases, and blind spots. The log must be accompanied by a concise personal reflection. The final oral exam consists of one or two randomly drawn questions. Students are given 15 minutes to prepare, followed by 15 minutes of oral examination.

Other information

While the language of instruction for this course is French, accommodations are available for non-native speakers. Students may pose questions, engage in consultations with the instructor, and submit their assignments in English.

Online resources

A selection of scholarly texts and online resources will be made available on Moodle.

Faculty or entity

> TEBI