BIOETHICS

Course objectives

Educational objectives The extraordinary development of scientific research, particularly in the field of life sciences , opens up considerable horizons for knowledge and can contribute to the overall improvement of the life of human beings. A condition for this objective to be reached is that there is a widespread climate of trust towards science, determined by the transparency of means and ends and by the simultaneous certainty of freedom and responsibility. On the ethical level, the fundamental purpose is to reach out and s opportunities and the ability to choose the people within the framework of a society that is plural but not broken into each other outside the moral community. Knowledge and understanding: Having said that, the aim of the course will be not so much to convey a wealth of notions inherent to the various theories and positions in the bioethical field, as to introduce students to this complexity, providing them with useful categories for deciphering the questions posed from time to time. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The acquisition of thinkability categories in ethical terms , socio- politicians, will allow them to correctly frame the questions posed, identifying the "real" problem areas. Autonomy of judgment: The acquisition of such capabilities and their operation, will head ta through the classroom discussion of specific cases and will allow to develop a critical capacity aimed at identifying proposals re solutive that are characterized by originality and practicality. Communication skills: The development of the previous abilities cannot be realized without acquiring a communicative capacity focused on the argument that it is a necessary condition for a correct and responsible assessment. Learning skills: The pursuit of the training objectives of the course also includes the awareness of the extreme changeability of the issues covered by bioethical reflection . The choice of orienting teaching, not so much in terms of acquiring notions as in terms of consolidating critical skills, is aimed at inducing intellectual curiosity, but above all the acquisition of an argumentative style aimed at seeking the sources of updating and deepening, escaping those simplifying solutions that often do not capture the depth of the issues at stake.

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FABRIZIO RUFO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course aims to provide some basic elements in the field of bioethics, ethics of science and ethic's research. The course will consider specific problematic and significant issues for future professionals in the field of biological sciences. The students will be invited to debate the moral dilemmas related to the new acquisitions in scientific research and to the changes that this transformation involves in the relationship between science and society. The comparison will also be through the examination of simulated situations, narrated, real or imaginary, and of examples of actual cases drawn from current affairs. Course Description: - contemporary epistemological redefinition - principles of bioethics - Elements of biopolitics: the Nuremberg Code - the body and the market, health policies - The relationship between science and society
Prerequisites
No special requirements are required
Books
F. Rufo, Etica in laboratorio, Donzelli, Roma, 2021 (nuova edizione) A. Ficorilli, Nuovi territori per l'etica nella ricerca scientifica, Mimesis, Milano, 2021 Other information will be provided at the beginning of the course
Teaching mode
Lessons with the use of power points and other audiovisual tools
Frequency
Attendance of the course is not mandatory
Exam mode
The exam includes a oral test
Bibliography
E. Lecaldano, Bioetica. Le scelte morali, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2020 P. Donatelli, La vita umana in prima persona, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2012. G. Pellegrino, M. Di Paola, Nell’antropocene. Etica e politica alla fine di un mondo, DeriveApprodi, Roma, 2018. S. Pollo, La morale della natura, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2008. F. Rufo (a cura di), La salute è un diritto, Ediesse, Roma, 2020 M. Balistreri, G.Capranico, M. Galletti, S.Zullo, Biotecnologie e modificazioni genetiche, Il mulino, Bologna, 2020 G. Corbellini, C. Lalli, Bioetica per perplessi, Mondadori, Milano, 2016
Lesson mode
Frontal / traditional teaching
  • Lesson code1019219
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseBiology
  • CurriculumGenetico-molecolare
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDM-FIL/02
  • CFU6