Philosophy and Bioethics

Code:

PDB002

Acronym:

PDB002

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Ethics in Health Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Programme in Bioethics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDB	30	Current Studies Plan	1	-	6	60	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

The essential aim of the Curricular Unit of Philosophy and Bioethics is that the student acquires the necessary knowledge in the bases of Philosophy. To provide  necessary conditions for the expansion of the students' capacity for reflection and critical analysis of the reality  lived and recognized by Philosophy. In terms of concepts it is intended for students to aquire, as broad as possible, the fundamental concepts.

Learning outcomes and competences

With this curricular unit, the student should be equipped with the skills and competencies nedded to reflect on the values of interpersonal relationships, how people position themselves in life, and how they live in harmony with others. To provide the necessary conditions for the expansion of the students' capacity of reflection and critical analysis of the reality lived and recognized by Philosophy.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Roots of the European culture

The formation of Europe

The person concept according to the middle-age thought

The person concept according to Kant

What is Ethics?

The scope of Ethics

The two traditions of Moral Philosophy

What is expected from Ethics teaching

Moral pluralism

From general ethics to applied ethics

The main trends of contemporary Ethics:

1.Utilitarianism

2.Reasoning Ethics

3.Qualified equalitarianism by John Rawls

4.Liberal individualism

5.Communitarianism

6.Relationship ethics

7.Care ethics

8.Virtue ethics

The moral subject

Mandatory literature

1- Beauchamp, T. & Childress, J.; Principles of Biomedical Ethics, New York: Oxford University Press, 2013
2- Rachels, J. ; The Elements of Moral Philosophy, New York: McGraw-Hill College, 2007
3- Henk Ten Have; Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics, Springer Publishers, 2015

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching methodologies have different strategies: a) Theoretical Lectures: about different themes related to the Curricular Unit; b) Seminars: Prepared and guided discussion of specific themes, defined in advance, with the participation of professors and students; c) Group Work: Pedagogical activity of analysis and problem solving, orientated by the professors and actively prepared by the students; and d) Presentation of Case-Problems by the students.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	50,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	60,00
Trabalho escrito	102,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

The Continuous Assessment is performed by the responsible professor for the group of students who attend the Curricular Unit. An assessment of the whole pedagogical process and of the evolution of each student's capacities is at stake: Evolution in the communication skills, evolution of the human relation, of the regular attendance in the Curricular Unit, of the interest and participation in the pedagogic process, and, finally, of the theoretical and practical knowledge. It is possible to make use of audio-visual techniques.

Calculation formula of final grade

The Final Assessment of the curricular unit is made by the Continuous Assessment (50%) and a Final Examination that evaluates the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge (50%).