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78309-01 - Seminar: Principlism and Beyond: Moral Theories in Bioethics (2 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Christian Rodriguez (c.rodriguezperez@unibas.ch)
Tenzin Wangmo (tenzin.wangmo@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Starting from the practical case of how moral theory is applied in bioethics, including its use in empirical bioethics, the course moves through major traditions such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Participants will also engage with principle-based, feminist, care-oriented, and case-based approaches, as well as meta-ethical debates like realism, relativism, pluralism, and particularism. Through readings, students’ presentations and exercises the course provides both theoretical grounding and practical tools for analyzing real bioethical cases. |
| Learning objectives | Participants will learn the basics of moral theories relevant to bioethics, develop skills to apply these theories to real cases, and engage with IBMB groups and researchers to understand current bioethics projects and the practical relevance of moral theory. This combination of theoretical learning, applied practice, and interdisciplinary exchange will prepare participants to integrate moral reasoning into their future work. |
| Comments | IBMB Library (Room 203, Bernoullistrasse 28) Always on Tuesday 13:30-16:30 on the following dates: 3., 17., and 31. March 2026 14., and 28. April 2026 12., and 26. May 2026 9. June 2026 |
| Admission requirements | The course is designed for PhD students from the Institute for Biomedical Ethics (IBMB) and is also open to Master’s students from other programs who are interested in pursuing work in bioethics. |
| Course application | MOnA and by mail to c.rodriguez@unibas.ch |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Aufbaumodul (Teil C) (Transfakultäre Querschnittsprogramme im freien Kreditpunkte-Bereich) Doctoral Studies Medical Ethics: Courses (PhD subject: Medical Ethics (Faculty of Science)) Doctoral Studies Medical Ethics: Courses (PhD subject: Medical Ethics (Faculty of Medicine)) Doctorate Biomedical Ethics: Recommendations (PhD subject: Biomedical Ethics (Start of studies before 01.08.2025)) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | There are three requirements to pass the course: 1) Attend all classes (100% attendance) 2) Complete the assigned readings 3) Give one presentation No repeat examination Pass / Fail |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: teaching staff |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Medicine |
| Offered by | Institut für Bio- und Medizinethik |