1. Unit II. Ethics: Home and Family Odyssey: UNIV 300I Fall 2006

2. Interrelated topics: examples of the issues in bioethics we all face or will face in our lives Stem Cell Research Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Living organ donation

3. How should we reason? Kantian respect for persons Utilitarian concern for results: greatest happiness for the greatest number Warnock: intuition vs. good reasoning Public vs. private morality

4. Central question: what is a “person”? Biological: homo sapiens Ethical: moral agent Political: legal recognition

5. Warnock: When does human life begin? When does an embryo become morally significant? What status should be accorded to the early embryo? What is the relationship of facts from science to value questions? What is “acceptable” for public morality?

6. End of life: euthanasia What is “natural”? What is “voluntary”? Is there a right to die with dignity? Is there a moral obligation never to terminate a life under any circumstances?

7. “The Ethics of Stem Cell Research” by Gene Outka Structure of argument and reasoning Spell out all options and critique Critique: has he presented all sides fairly? Has he articulated support and objections fairly? Are there “strawmen” in his arguments?

8. Recurring ethical controversies 1. Status of embryo and aborted fetus 2. Complicity: responsibility for the ethics of the action taken or not taken 3. Alternative research on adult stem cells 4. Political and legal contexts: how should research be organized, financed, overseen

9. Outka: right, left, middle Meaning of labels “right” “left” “middle” What is relevant in public policy decision-making? “acceptable” vs. “right”? Religious dogma? Public vs. private?

10. Outka’s principles to assist reasoning Potentiality vs. actuality “Nothing is lost” Other principles?