Summer Session

Instructor: Gloria Sanso
Online; May 30 to July 7, 2023 (Session J)
Class #: 12208

Introduces value theory, good and bad, justification of obligations to others, relationship of free choice and determinism, and contemporary moral problems analyzed by ethical principles.

Does morality depend on the person, situation, or culture? Even if an action feels right, is there a systematic way to avoid personal biases in my assessment? What kind of person should I be? This course introduces the ongoing discussion of the nature of morality, what might be the best criteria for assessing right and wrong, and what factors are relevant in difficult ethical situations. The course is structured in two parts: first discusses what morality is and surveys the most influential ethical theories; the second applies these theories to practical circumstances and controversial policies, including abortion, euthanasia, treatment of animals, etc. The course does not require familiarity with philosophy or ethical theory.

Instructor: Joshua Vonderhaar
Online; July 10 to August 18, 2023 (Session M)
Class #:  11116

Examines techniques of problem solving, decision making, and evaluating pros and cons of an issue; organizing data; forming strategies and giving reasons; perceptual, cultural, emotional, intellectual, and expressive blocks to thinking; and simple inductive reasoning and statistical fallacies. Students will also learn the basics of inductive, deductive, categorical, and propositional logic.

Instructor: Sean Kermath
Online; July 10 to August 18, 2023 (Session M)
Class #: 10377

Examines techniques of problem solving, decision making, and evaluating pros and cons of an issue; organizing data; forming strategies and giving reasons; perceptual, cultural, emotional, intellectual and expressive blocks to thinking; and simple inductive reasoning and statistical fallacies.

In this course, we will consider a variety of ethical issues that arise in the biomedical field.  You will be introduced to some of the major ethical frameworks within moral philosophy (e.g. utilitarianism, deontology) as well as the basic methods and tools of philosophical analysis.  We will survey examples of applications of these frameworks to various bioethical issues.  You will develop the skills needed to read, discuss, and write about philosophical issues within bioethics.  You will practice applying the tools of philosophical analysis in order to (i) recognize the ethical frameworks being applied to various bioethical issues, (ii) identify arguments presented in the readings and assignments, (iii) discuss your own critical evaluations of the arguments, and (iv) construct and defend your own evaluations and arguments about these issues in writing.  The main goal is to get you to become better, more careful thinkers, both in general and about bioethical questions in particular.  Not only will you become familiar with a number of different views surrounding ethical issues in medicine, you will also have the opportunity to further develop your own view on these important issues.

Meeting days and times as arranged with professors. See listing on HUB Registration Window for Individual Tutorial Course Sections with Philosophy Department Faculty (to be arranged with Permission of Instructor.)