6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4002738FEW for working students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Possible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
NOTE: registration for this course is only possible for working students. Day students can register for courses whose code ends with an R. At Inschrijven / studentenadministratie@vub.be you must be registered at the VUB as a working student for the current academic year.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Languages & Humanities
Department
Philosophy - Moral Sciences
Educational team
Dirk Lafaut (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
13 contact hours Lecture
45 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
54 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Bioethics is an interdisciplinary field studying ethical challenges in (health) care, medicine and medical research.

In this course we first discuss some basic concepts (such as informed consent, confidentiality, integrity) and some basic methodologies (such as principism, casuistry and reflective equilibrium) in bioethics.

Then, we explore some recent trends in bioethics, such as critical bioethics, feminist bioethics and empirical bioethics.

Finally, we discuss some current debates within bioethics, such as debates on completed life, reproductive justice, egg freezing and cultural sensitivity. We pay specific attention to the liberal-humanist perspective. At the same time, we focus on learning how to develop and substantiate a personal opinion.

 
Course material
Digital course material (Recommended) : Syllabus beschikbaar, Canvas
Practical course material (Recommended) : Slides en aanvullende teksten
Additional info

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Learning Outcomes

General competencies

The student is able to critically analyze the social and normative dimension of a bioethical problem. The student is able to apply various moral philosophical theories to a bioethical problem.

The student is able to develop and substantiate a personal postion in relation to a bioethical debate or dilemma.

 

Knowledge

The student knows and has insight into the most important traditions and concepts in the field of bioethics.

The student knows and has insight into the different positions and moral arguments related to some important ethical issues such as end of life, reproductive health, cultural sensitivity.

 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
SELF Practical Assignment determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Mondeling examen with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: Mondeling examen met een wegingsfactor 1 en aldus 50% van het totale eindcijfer

Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Praktisch oefeningen with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: Praktische oefeningen met een wegingsfactor 1 en aldus 50% van het totale eindcijfer

Additional info regarding evaluation

The exam consists of three questions. For the question on 10 points, students must prepare an oral presentation of an exam paper, followed by a discussion. In addition, there are two questions about the course, each on 5 points.

 
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: Ethics and Humanism (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: Philosophy (only offered in Dutch)
Research Master of Philosophy: Standaard traject
Master of Teaching in Arts and Humanities: History (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Arts and Humanities: Art History and Heritage Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Arts and Humanities: Philosophy (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Arts and Humanities: Ethics and Humanism (only offered in Dutch)