Module manager: Sarah Carter-Walshaw
Email: S.Carter-Walshaw@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 Nov to 31 Jan View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module aims to provide philosophical basis for critically examining the moral issues at the beginning of life. It explores related background theory and theoretical issues in addition to applied issues in associated medical fields such as reproductive medicine and antenatal care.
This module aims to introduce you to several ethical issues and theories related the beginning of life and how this relates to the ethics of associated areas of medicine such as antenatal care and reproductive medicine. It also aims to give you a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments and accounts in this area, and to hone your evaluative and argumentative skills so that you can assess current debates in a in a detailed and sophisticated manner.
The objectives will be fulfilled through independent online learning where you will be introduced to core concepts, readings, and arguments and are encouraged to read texts critically and reflect on and analyse these arguments and concepts. They will also be fulfilled through online discussion forums and synchronous webinars where you will have the opportunity to develop your own arguments on the topics and test these through critical reflection with other learners and academic staff.
On successful completion of the module, you will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Critically evaluate key concepts in ethics at the beginning of life, including reproductive ethics.
2. Critically evaluate, in detail, a range of debates in ethics relating to reproductive rights and issues.
3. Construct insightful and sophisticated arguments relating to ethics at the beginning of life and in reproductive healthcare.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, you will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Reflect on, empathise and engage with a diverse range of perspectives. (Academic, Sustainability and Work Ready skill)
5. Communicate ideas in a clear and scholarly manner. (Academic and Work Ready skill)
6. Apply research skills and specialist knowledge in new contexts. (Academic, Work Ready and Enterprise skill)
7. Apply ethical perspectives to contemporary problems in reproductive medicine and health care. (Academic, Work Ready, Sustainability and Enterprise skill)
8. Effectively communicate, participate and collaborate in an online environment. (Academic, Digital, Sustainability and Work Ready skill)
Topics may include
- The value of life
- The right to life
- Moral personhood, including the moral status of human foetuses/embryos/gametes etc.
- Abortion and pre-natal screening
- Potentiality
- Reproductive rights
- Fertility treatment and reproductive technologies
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-line Learning | 8 | 2 | 16 |
| WEBINAR | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Independent online learning hours | 33 | ||
| Private study hours | 100 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 17 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
In addition to the formative feedback available to students in student hours, each student is invited to complete ONE piece of formative work which will receive written feedback.
Students are given a choice of: essay plan; exposition of an argument; objection and reply.
To ensure that students get the formative feedback that they need, they are asked to read and reflect on (i) the feedback they received in previous summative assessments, (ii) the PRHS marking criteria and (iii) the specific guidance provided on the summative assessment in this module. This requires students to critically engage with previous feedback, current expectations, and play an active role in honing their knowledge and skill development.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 90 |
| Coursework | Contributions to Online Discussion | 10 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The resit for the discussion contributions will be an essay demonstrating familiarity with a wide range of debates and will be descriptively as opposed to analytically focused.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 19/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team