Morality and Bioethics

Pontifex University

Doyen Nguyen, OP, M.D., S.T.D.

[email protected]

Course Description

Advances in medical science and technology have led to serious moral controversies which span the whole of human life from conception to death. For Catholics, the moral assessment of a bioethical issue necessarily requires adequate knowledge of the fundamental principles of Catholic moral theology (e.g., human acts, conscience) and of Catholic bioethics (e.g., the sacredness of human life). This course is an overview of these fundamental principles and their application in the moral evaluation of some contemporary bioethical issues.

Course Objectives

1. Students will be able to apply the fundamental concepts of Catholic moral theology in their daily life.

2. Students will sharpen their skills in critical thinking so as to be able to engage (from a Catholic perspective) in general debates on bioethical issues.

3. Students will use the sources and themes on morals and bioethics as resources for their essays on particular contemporary moral issues.

Course requirements

1. In addition to the video lectures, students are expected to study the recommended reading material, some of which will be provided by the professor. The reading material also includes Church documents which can be downloaded from the Vatican website. Each lecture includes one or more questions which require students’ engagement in responding to the questions.

2. For each lecture, the recommended method is as follows: (i) do the reading first,
(ii) follow the video lecture,
(iii) revisit the reading assignment

(iv) do the short assignment answering the question that is posed at the end of the video lecture

3. Academic honesty is an absolute requirement. Academic dishonesty (in particular, plagiarism) harms the doer more than anyone else.

System requirements

This course is offered asynchronously on our LMS, NEO.  To access the course and complete it successfully, you will need an internet capable device with sound and a current internet browser: either the current or the previous release of Chrome, Firefox and Safari, or Internet Explorer 11+ (for Windows 8 and previous versions), and Microsoft Edge (for Windows 10+) to run the LMS.  In addition, courses require the use of, a PDF viewer, word-processing software compatible with Microsoft Office suite and a current email address. For help with the NEO platform see the Help Center in the LMS, found by clicking on the “?” in the upper right hand corner after you have logged in.  For log in questions, registration questions, or problems with missing content or content malfunctions, contact the teaching assistant, Elizabeth Froula at [email protected].

Course evaluation

The grading is based on:

(i) a short essay of 2,000 words (= 8 pages, double spaced) on a topic related to the course and approved by the professor – 29% of the grade

(ii) a mid-term exam which consists of short essay questions – 29% of the grade (iii) a final exam which consists of short essay questions – 29% of the grade

(iv) the student’s engagement in the course (i.e., the short assignments at the end of the lectures) – 13% of the grade

Schedule of Lectures

1. An Overview of the Nature and History of Catholic Moral Theology
2. Beatitude, the Principle of the Whole of Human Activity
3. The Sermon on the Mount, a Charter for Christian Life
4. Human Acts, Natural Inclinations, and Freedom
5. Conscience and Prudence
6. Errors of Revisionists’ Moral Systems
7. Midterm Exam
8. An Overview of Catholic Bioethics
9. Human Dignity and the Sacredness of Human Life
10. A Holistic Vision of Human Sexuality
11. Anti-Reproductive Technologies
12. Assisted-Reproductive Technologies
13. End of Life Issues
14. Death and Organ Donation
15. Final Exam

Proprietary interest policy

Faculty are permitted to refer to notable past work and achievements (including publications and educational activities not offered by Pontifex University, and even those offered for personal profit) in their published biography on the Pontifex website and course promotions. In the context of educational activities undertaken for Pontifex University, including videos, live or recorded, teachers, can recommend or bring to the attention such work for students (even if for personal profit, for example, books or podcasts) but only with approval by Pontifex University and when it is related to the teaching purpose of the class.  An instructor’s related work will be noted in the syllabus as appropriate.  Instructors may use their own materials as required in their courses and learning events as long as the materials are appropriate for the particular learning event.

Failure to comply with this policy will result in a warning or administration modification of course materials. Violations of this policy should be reported to the Provost.