Module manager: Dr Carl Fox
Email: c.a.fox@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 Jan to 28 Feb View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
IDEA5303M Abortion, Euthanasia, Life and Death
This module is not approved as an Elective
The module aims to provide philosophical basis for critically examining the moral issues at the end of life, considering background theory as well as more specific issues, such as:
- Theory: examining the morality of killing and the value of human life; quality of life; the implications of consequentialism as applied to the morality of killing – the difference between killing and letting die, and alternatives to consequentialism; slippery slopes.
- Applied: Palliative care; suicide; active and passive euthanasia; withdrawing treatment.
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Display understanding of a number of key philosophical texts relating to end of life decisions;
- Explain and evaluate competing approaches to central concepts in debates around end of life issues;
- Explain and evaluate arguments put forward in debates about end of life issues, and relate them to key theoretical positions.
Will include topics such as:
- The wrongness of killing
- Consequentialism and non-consequentialism
- Suicide and assisted suicide
- Palliative care
- Quality of life and best interests
- Withdrawing treatment
- Active and passive euthanasia
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 8 | 2 | 16 |
| Private study hours | 134 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 16 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Detailed study of required readings plus advance preparation of discussion questions for seminars. Preparation of answers to set coursework assignment questions. Independent reading and research for the preparation of assessments.
Essay plan (400 words).
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 3000 words | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 4/29/2024
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