JK22001Research 1~3-Seminar (KBR/SEG)(Colloquim)

Numbering Code G-LET36 7JK22 SE36 Year/Term 2022 ・ Second semester
Number of Credits 2 Course Type Seminar
Target Year Target Student
Language English Day/Period Wed.3
Instructor name KODAMA SATOSHI (Graduate School of Letters Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course Is it okay to take pills to help you ace exams? Should you be able to choose the sex of your child? Is abortion murder?
These controversial questions will be explored in this bioethics course. Bioethics is an interdisciplinary field of study that looks into ethical, legal, and social implications of life sciences and health care.
This course will help you understand key ethical issues surrounding crucial problems that profoundly impact your life from birth to death.
Topics include:
Reproductive technology such as surrogacy and sex-selection of the baby Abortion
Informed consent
Euthanasia
The use of medical technology for the purpose of enhancement
You will also learn about ethical arguments and regulations in Japan and other countries concerning life sciences and healthcare. The hope is, through this course, you will better understand and formulate your own opinions on these important issues.
This course is based on the idea of flip teaching: you need to watch the lecture video before attending the class and have a discussion with other students.
Study Focus: Knowledge, Belief and Religion; Society, Economy and Governance. Modules: Focus I -- Foundations I.
Course Goals You will learn:
Basic terms for bioethics
Basics of ethical arguments
How decisions are made on critical bioethics issues
Regulations and public policies related to bioethical issues in Japan and other countries
Schedule and Contents Discussion topics include:
1. What is Bioethics?
2. The Ethics of Assisted Reproductive Technology
3. The Ethics of Truth-Telling
4. Is Abortion “Murder”?
5. What’s Wrong with Enhancement?
6. Is Euthanasia Wrong?
7. Living-Donor Organ Transplantation
8. Cloning Technology
9. ES Cells and iPS Cells
10. Lifespan and Eternal Life
11. Brain Death and Organ Transplants
12. Genome Editing and Ethics
13. The Problem with "Suicide Tourism"
14. Forgoing Life-Sustaining Treatment
15. The Ethics of Ageing
Evaluation Methods and Policy Class attendance and active participation (50%), small quiz tests that come with the video lectures (50%).
Course Requirements None
Study outside of Class (preparation and review) This course is based on the idea of flip teaching: you need to watch the lecture video before attending the class and have a discussion with other students. Each lecture video with a small quiz test lasts for less than one hour.
Textbooks Textbooks/References EXPLORING BIOETHICS THROUGH MANGA: Questions on the Meaning of "Life" , Kodama, Satoshi & Natsutaka, (Kyoto: Kagakudojin), ISBN:978-4759827774
References, etc. Medical Ethics: A Very Short Introduction 2nd ed., Tony Hope and Michael Dunn, (Oxford University Press), ISBN:978-0198815600
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