Ethics of Scientific and Technological Research in Life Sciences

Code: FIL10250M

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Philosophy

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

The unit seeks to identify the axiological framework of Life Sciences and to point out the ethical consequences of this framework for scientific and technological research.

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Learning Goals

Students should be able to:
- to identify the axiological dimensions of the Life Sciences scientific and technological research;
- To identify the main lines of scientific and technological progress in life sciences;
- To identify the main ethical problems that these technologies raise and be aware of its complexity;
- To be able to understand the main currents of the ethical reflection in biotechnologies;
- To be able to discuss criteria of decision between alternatives dilemmas, and chose the most appropriate
forms of conduct;
- To qualify the students for participating in the debates on the crucial questions raised by bioethics.

1. The axiological dimensions of the Life Sciences scientific and technological research;
2. the main lines of scientific and technological progress in life sciences;the importance of technology and
techno science;
3. Techno science and the manipulation of human nature: the emerging bioethical issues;
4. In search of a reliable criterion of decision: the human nature;
5. Major theoretical models in bioethics:
6. The concepts of Freedom, Autonomy, Dignity of the Human Person and their use in bioethics.
7. Social, economic and political ethics of Scientific and Technological Research in Life Sciences.
8. The legal framework, at international, European and national level, for the ethics of scientific research, particularly in the Life Sciences. Rules, regulations and protocols. The functioning of ethics committees and research authorization requests. The deontology of scientific research.
9. Practical cases.

Teaching Methods

The methodology used relies on multiple strategies: oral presentations; interpretative analysis and commentary
of texts, films, and real cases; debates on controversial topics; and discussions of dilemmatic cases.

Assessment

Teaching focuses on analytical capacity, the selection and retention of relevant and appropriate information, argumentation and oral and written presentation of themes and problems. Throughout the semester, students are asked to write brief comments on the subjects taught (the set of comments corresponds to 40% of the evaluation in a continuous evaluation regime) and, at the end, the written presentation and oral discussion of a brief essay on a topic/case chosen by the students (40%). The evaluation will take into account the scientific level and the quality of participation in the sessions (20%). Exams include written and oral tests.