University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 20

ECTS credits : 10

Level : SCQF level 8

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: Available only to students on the Evening / Combined Studies Programme.

Planned timetable: Wed 6.30 - 9.30 pm

How should we think about moral problems concerning life and death? Choices about whose life to save, and whom to allow to die, must be made all the time, in the health service and elsewhere. How should such choices be made? Some actions that aim at good ends will endanger lives. Are such actions permissible? This module deals with some general questions concerning life and death, such as: Is death bad? Would it necessarily be a bad thing if humans went extinct? In virtue of what is life good? Should we care about the lives of people who will exist in the future, long after we are dead? What is it that makes killing bad, and is there a morally significant difference between killing and letting die? The module also deals with some applied issues and moral problems, such as: Is disability inevitably a bad-making difference? When, if ever, are abortion and euthanasia morally permissible? Should there be markets for human organs or reproductive labour?

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module, you must have passed any social science or humanities evening degree module

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 x 2.5-hour session: lectures and tutorials

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 100%


Re-assessment: 1 or more essays totaling no more than 6,000 words

Personnel

Module teaching staff: Dr. Walter Pedriali