A skill-based approach to the teaching of ethics in the life sciences â experiences from Denmark

T. Hansen; T. Dich; P. SandÃ¸e

A skill-based approach to the teaching of ethics in the life sciences â experiences from Denmark

In: Ethical futures: bioscience and food horizons

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T. Hansen

T. Hansen University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Rolighedsvej 25, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C., Denmark tih@life.ku.dk

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T. Dich

T. Dich University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Rolighedsvej 25, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C., Denmark tih@life.ku.dk

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, and

P. SandÃ¸e

P. SandÃ¸e University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Rolighedsvej 25, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C., Denmark tih@life.ku.dk

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 192â196

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086866731_032

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What is the purpose of teaching ethics in the life sciences? It seems that there are two fundamentally different ways to approach this question: (1) character-based teaching, in which the students are taught certain values and how to act in a morally correct fashion; (2) a skill-based teaching of ethics, in which the students are given tools with which to identify and analyse ethical problems. The aim of this paper is to defend skill-based ethics teaching. First, the paper will present experiences from a course in ethics for veterinary students at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; this course is skill-based. Three important ideas run through the course: (a) the aim of the teaching is to support the ability of the students to recognise and analyse ethical problems and dilemmas that are related to their professional education; (b) ethical theory is taught, together with real life veterinary problems; (c) students work on projects in which they have to view an issue relating to the application of veterinary science from different ethical points of view. It is clear that the course is not âvalue freeâ â one main underlying value is respect for the different ethical viewpoints that have to co-exist in a pluralistic society. Another important underlying value is the idea that conflicts can and should be dealt with through discussion and compromise. However, the course does not promote one set of first order values at the cost of another. It will be argued that such a skill-based approach, in preference to a character-based system, will enable the students to function and flourish in their future professional roles.

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Ethical futures: bioscience and food horizons

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086866731

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 30 Oct 2009

Subjects
- Life Sciences

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A skill-based approach to the teaching of ethics in the life sciences â experiences from Denmark

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Ethical futures: bioscience and food horizons

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A skill-based approach to the teaching of ethics in the life sciences â experiences from Denmark