Introduction to Bioethics

Research on biosciences and biotechnologies has evolved greatly during the past few decades. Biosciences and their novel applications have an enormous impact on society as they shape our understanding of life, death, sickness, health, and environmental sustainability. The rise of new medical technologies, such as stem cell therapies and nanotechnology, forces us to study their influence on our world-view and concepts of life. Likewise, the environmental crisis compels us to reconsider our relationship to nature.

Bioethics is a philosophical study of the ethical controversies brought about by the above mentioned advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists attempt to answer the ethical questions that arise in the relationships between life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, philosophy, and theology. As a movement, bioethics began in the late 1960’s – during an era of intense social upheaval in North America. Since that period, bioethics movement has taken the form of an academic discipline.

The course introduces students to the history of bioethics, to the role of various theories and approaches in bioethics, to medical and environmental ethics as well as to ethical questions related to novel biotechnologies. The students will be also introduced to biolaw and its developments.

The Introduction to Bioethics is designed for BA, MA and doctoral students. It is intended for students who can tie in bioethics with their primary field of study such as philosophy, theology, ethics, medicine, biosciences, law or adjacent fields.

The course consists of lectures, case-based workshops, reading and a study journal which will be completed during the course. Prior to the course, all students are asked to write an orientation paper (2 to 3 pages) on the basis of given reading.

University of Helsinki has become a prominent centre for the study of bioethics, medical ethics, and biolaw. Professor Jaana Hallamaa (social ethics) and Professor Raimo Lahti (biolaw) have lead the research project ”Towards a Sustainable Stem Cell Research Culture”, funded by the Academy of Finland. The research project has several postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidates, many of whom will be teaching in the course together with Prof. Hallamaa, Prof. Lahti and University Lecturer Pekka Louhiala who is an internationally recognized teacher of medical ethics. The other lectures’ names will be announced in the spring of 2010.

Please direct any questions concerning the content of this course to the Coordinator, Ms. Suvielise Nurmi, suvielise.nurmi(at)helsinki.fi Any questions concerning the general arrangements (accommodation, scholarship, etc.) should be addressed to the Summer School's office at summer-school@helsinki.fi