Ethics in the Neurosciences

ZNZ, Zurich, next course: spring 2012
Jackie Leach Scully

The aim of this Block course is to provide students with some of the conceptual tools
with which to engage with the ethical problems presented by the neurosciences
today. The teaching methods of the course combine lectures and small
group discussion, and students are expected to participate actively.

The course will also offer students the opportunity to discuss topics of particular interest to them.

The language of the course is English.

Indicative content

Day 1

• What sort of ethical problems do neuroscientists confront in their work?
• The basic tools and approaches of ethics, medical ethics and bioethics
• Ethical problems of animal use in scientific research

Day 2

• Humans in scientific and medical research
• Special cases: research on human embryos, globalized research
• Genetic ethics: the use of genetic data in research

Day 3

• Neuroethics
• The special case of memory
• Scientific fraud: on being a good scientist
• Ethical or social responsibility? 

Course documents

• Neuro Ethics Animals 2011 (pdf, 500 kb)
  
• Neuro Ethics Basics 2011 (pdf, 154 kb)
  
• Neuro Ethics Biobanks 2011 (pdf, 642 kb)
  
• Neuro Ethics Humans 2011 (pdf, 531 kb)
• Neuro Ethics Misconduct 2011 (pdf, 280 kb)
  
• Neuro Ethics Neuro 2011 (pdf, 1.3 MB)
  
• Neuro Ethics Special Cases 2011 (pdf, 136 kb)