Schedule of Topics and Readings

Week 1 (Aug 26, 28):  Introduction

No Assigned Readings

Week 2 (Sept 2, 4):  The Structure of Philosophical Ethics

Plato, Euthyphro

Entire Dialogue

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

“Ethical Theory and Bioethics – Fundamental Problems” (1-12)

Weeks 3 & 4 (Sept 9, 11, 16, 18):  Eugenics

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

Daniel J. Kevles, “Eugenics and Human Rights” (457-459)

Buck v. Bell (460-461)

Stephen Jay Gould, “Carrie Buck’s Daughter” (462-466)

Jonathan Glover, “Eugenics: Some Lessons from the Nazi Experience” (467-472)

Week 5 (Sept 23, 25):  Dangerous People

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (119-123)

Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men

Entire Novel

Week 6 (Sept 30, Oct 2):  Types of Ethical Theory

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

“Ethical Theory and Bioethics – Types of Ethical Theory” (12-19)

Week 7 (Oct 7, 9):  Ethics as Determined by Sentiment

Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals:

Section I (Of the General Principles of Morals)

Section II (Of Benevolence)

Section V, Part I (Why Utility Pleases)

Appendix I (Concerning Moral Sentiment)

Week 8 (Oct 14, 16):  Ethics Under the Rule of Reason

Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals:

Preface (Search for absolute, necessary a priori laws)

First Section (Acting from Duty, Maxim, Categorical Imperative (Formulation #1))

Second Section (Hypothetical Imperatives, Categorical Imperative (#2)) (22-49)

Weeks 9 & 10 (Oct 21, 23, 28):  Euthanasia

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

“End-of-Life Decision Making” – Chapter Introduction (179-185)

“The Oregon Death with Dignity Act” (201-204)

Henk Jochemsen & John Keown, “Voluntary Euthanasia under Control?” (235-240)

Johannes J.M. van Delden, “Slippery Slopes in Flat Countries” (241-243)

Weeks 10 & 11 (Oct 30, Nov 4):  Ethics in Terms of the Best Consequences Overall

Mill, Utilitarianism:

Chapter I (General Remarks)

Chapter II (What Utilitarianism Is)

Weeks 11 & 12 (Nov 6, 11, 13): Abortion

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

“Abortion and Maternal-Fetal Relations” – Chapter Introduction (263-270)

Roe v. Wade (308-312)

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (312-318)

Week 13 (Nov 18, 20): Confidentiality and the Right to Know

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

“Autonomy Rights and Medical Information” – Chapter Introduction (109-113)

Mark Siegler, “Confidentiality in Medicine – A Decrepit Concept” (116-118)

Morton E. Winston, “AIDS, Confidentiality, and The Right to Know” (124-128)

Week 14 (Nov 25, 27): Fall Recess

Week 15 (Dec 2, 4): Informed Consent

Beauchamp & Walters, Contemporary Issues in Bioethics:

Canterbury v. Spence (139-141)

Robert J. Levine, “Informed Consent: Some Challenges to the Universal Validity of the Western Model” (150-155)

Gregory E. Pence, “The Tuskegee Study” (394-401)

William J. Clinton, “In Apology for the Study Done in Tuskegee” (402-403)

Week 16 (Dec 9, 11):  A Bioethical New World

Huxley, Brave New World

Entire Novel