See https://www.anu.edu.au/covid-19-advice. In Sem 1 2022, this course is delivered on campus with adjustments for remote participants.
Rapid advances in the biosciences, biotechnology and biomedicine represent a challenge to our society and raise some very difficult ethical questions. Since its advent in the mid 20th century the field of bioethics has engaged with such issues and developed a range of responses and proposals. In this course you will consider diverse perspectives through readings, tutorial discussions and lectures.
The kinds of topics we will consider in this course may include: Should vaccination be compulsory or is this an infringement of personal rights? Should we create a market in transplantable organs to save more lives? Can research and experiments on human and non-human subjects be conducted ethically? Is it ethical to edit a baby’s genes? What about the genes of a whole population? Should we let algorithms and artificial intelligence drive our cars, help us make decisions about who to hire, or help us decide who to imprison? Do we owe future generations a liveable planet? Should we seek to enhance human capabilities, such as our cognitive ability, our moral perceptions or our emotions? This course will give you the tools to understand questions like these and to make clear ethical arguments that point to the right course of action. In other words, this course will teach you how to argue well, and how to translate your scientific knowledge into good decisions both for yourself and for society.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Discuss and communicate the science involved in various bioethical debates and the associated social, cultural and political issues.
- Understand and employ a range of approaches to ethical and moral reasoning.
- Identify and evaluate relevant bioethical literature.
- Assess the benefits, risks, and societal & ethical implications of developments in the biosciences, biotechnology and biomedicine.
- Identify and articulate a personal view in the context of bioethical debates.
Indicative Assessment
- Completion of a quiz style assessment (20) [LO 1,2,3]
- Short ethical argument essays (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Long research essay (40) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Tutorial discussions, and submission of reflective reports in tutorials (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of approx. 2 hours of lectures plus 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week throughout the semester.
- Approximately 3 hours of assigned reading per week in preparation for the tutorial.
- Either two hours of self directed study in the form of reading, preparing assignments, watching documentaries, or listening to podcasts, or a 2 hour workshop per week.
- Approximately 34 hours of additional self directed study which will include preparing assignments throughout the semester.
Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions.
Inherent Requirements
To be determined
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Nil
Preliminary Reading
Tutorials will be based on lectures and weekly readings (articles/book chapters) provided on Wattle. The following books will be drawn on in the first weeks and provide an introduction to (bio)ethics as a disciplined activity, as well as essay writing.
Swartwood J, Stoner I. Doing Practical Ethics. New York, NY, USA: Oxford University Press; https://library.anu.edu.au/record=b7144828
Churchill LR. Ethics for Everyone: A Skills-Based Approach. Ethics for Everyone. Oxford University Press; 2020 https://library.anu.edu.au/record=b7101908
Additional resource:
Weston, A. A rulebook for Arguments, Fifth Edition. 2017. Hackett publishing, USA. https://library.anu.edu.au/record=b5803517
This ebook is available to read online, for free, from the ANU library.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $4200 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4041 | 21 Feb 2022 | 28 Feb 2022 | 31 Mar 2022 | 27 May 2022 | In Person | View |
