Research on biosciences and biotechnologies has evolved vastly during the past decades. Biosciences and their novel applications now have an enormous impact on society in shaping our understanding of life, death, sickness, health and environmental sustainability.This course engages with the philosophical study of the ethical controversies brought about by advances in biology and medicine. The students will be introduced to the history of bioethics; to the role of various theories and approaches; to medical, environmental and technological ethics; and to ethical questions related to novel biotechnologies. The course will also probe into biolaw and its developments.

Course leader
Professor Jaana Hallamaa

Target group
Introduction to Bioethics is designed for Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral students who can tie in bioethics with their primary field of study, such as philosophy, theology, ethics, medicine, biosciences, law or adjacent fields.

Course aim
The course will give an overview of the development of bioethics, as well as different theoretical approaches and examples of practical problems within the field. Case studies give an opportunity to analyse and formulate arguments in favour of and against different types of solutions, highlighting the complexity of bioethical problems.

Fee info
EUR 640: This course fee applies to degree and PhD students who pay the fee before June 1, 2015.

Helsinki Summer School
Address: P.O. Box 3 University of Helsinki
Postal code: FI-00014
City: Helsinki
Country: Finland
Website: http://helsinkisummerschool.fi
E-mail: summer-school@helsinki.fi
Phone: +358 (0)2 941 40255