Study of philosophical and theological approaches will be closely tied to the consideration of concrete issues. Topics will include contraception, abortion, technological reproduction, and advances in genetics. We will also consider issues that arise with modern medical management of terminal illness and the end of life. Ethical issues concerning who should have access to what kind of health care in our country will be considered. Questions about the place of autonomy and vulnerability in human life will be discussed.
Students can expect a mix of lectures and discussions in the first month.
In the remaining months a number of class periods will feature brief presentations of position papers by students in the class. Students will be expected to write a draft of a paper for their presentations and will produce a final version of the paper in response to class discussion and comments from Professor Bachman. There will also be a midterm exam and a final exam. This course is an open discussion of the many issues stemming from contemporary views of marriage and sexuality. Many in our time, in fact, separate those two themes making any connection between the two seem merely accidental or a matter of personal taste.