Thinking about end of life care...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19634617

What do you think about euthanasia?

Late term abortion

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-19621675

What do you think about this in relation to the abortion law?

Three parent embryos

Ethicists - check out this story. Basically, it will now be possible for scientists to create three parent embryos in order to prevent children with genetic diseases from being born. It does mean that children created in this way will have DNA from three parents. These embryos will contain DNA from sperm; the nucleus of a human ovum and mitochondrial DNA from another.

What do you think are the ethical implications? Is it right or wrong? Brilliant or horrible?


http://www.lifenews.com/2012/06/14/british-bioethics-council-gives-ok-to-three-parent-embryo/

Reapeat abortions

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18249026

It is unfashionable to say, and perhaps uncomfortable to read, but I feel that it is necessary to point out that, on the whole, it is not possible to get pregnant by accident. This article asserts that there are women having repeat abortions because of reasons beyond their control. Aside from the sad case of rape (which accounts for fewer than 1% of all terminations), I can see no compelling evidence to support said assertions...

Mad or Bad?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17859499

Supporting people.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/bigscreen/tv/episode/b01dk4ch/ 'If we are failing as a society to care for out most vulnerable; then we are failing as a society.'

Court to decide...if a man can be killed....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17336774

Invisible Children.

http://vimeo.com/37119711

An interesting and empowering wee film.

Mr J

Christian GP at centre of ‘praying with patients’ controversy to face new GMC hearing

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/newsarticle-content/-/article_display_list/13550882/christian-gp-at-centre-of-praying-with-patients-controversy-to-face-new-gmc-hearing

Unethical to pray with patients, even if they ask?

Catholic midwives forced to participate in abortions

http://blog.godreports.com/2012/03/catholic-midwives-forced-to-participate-in-abortions/#more-1303

http://www.spuc.org.uk/news/releases/2012/february29a

If choice is so important, why can't Catholic midwives?

After birth abortion.

http://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2012/02/22/medethics-2011-100411.full

An interesting little article on abortion.

Abortion and Gender

All over the news this week have been stories about the Telegraph's under-cover investigation into doctors who performed abortions on the grounds of gender selection. While this is illegal, and obviously immoral, I find peoples' outrage about this somewhat baffling! The law states that a woman can have an abortion on the grounds of disability; or on the grounds if her health - what's so different about gender selection? Surely, if these outraged folk took their outrage to its logical conclusion they would see that abortion on all grounds is immoral. Check out the story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9103839/Scotland-Yard-launches-investigation-into-doctors-who-agreed-to-illegal-abortions-of-baby-girls.html Mlane

Abortion and mental health....

A pro-lifer's experience of a pro choice meeting: http://whyiamprolife.blogspot.com/2012/02/undercover-at-pro-abortion-meeting.html

Organ Donation

There are numerous moral and theological questions surrounding organ donation. If you needed an organ because one of yours had failed, would you accept one? It might be an opportunity for good to come from a tragic event. One might see it as a great act of love. Or, one might argue that it is important to preserve the integrity of the human body because all people are made in the image and likeness of God. Like we ask the question, 'when does life begin?' -we also ask the question of when does life end? When a persons' heart stops? When they are brain stem dead? Or is it enough to be in a PVS? Should people be compelled to donate organs? Should people who donate organs be able to specify what sort of person their organs might go to? Check out 'The Moral Maze' on radio four Saturday 18th February. Mlane

Illegal praying..?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16980025



A right to die?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16957125

Should this man be allowed help to end his own life?

Faith and Politics

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16953621



Are we living beyond our means?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16918000

A2 ethicists check this story out - it is relevant to our next topic!

Newman on conscience

This should really be in our notes section. Rhetoric, make sure you can articulate Newman's concept of the illative sense.

Overpopulation is a myth!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0130/breaking19.html

"Some of the greatest exponents of the natural law, like Aristotle and Cicero, never heard of the Catholic Church. These things we teach are not true because they happen to be taught by the church. We teach them because they happen to be true. Their truth antedates the church."

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1200332.htm

A look at Natural Law Theory.

Mlane

Ethics in Media?

After a quite personal comment made by Mr J. Paxman to the first Minster of Scotland, Mr A Salmond; is it acceptable for the BBC to let such comments be made and was it said to stir up anger and public feeling? What ethics are involved in the media?


Have a look. (Skip along to 3:34)


J Fetherston

It's all lies!

An interesting little debate going on in 'The Guardian' after a survey by the University of Essex: Are British people really becoming more dishonest?


Have a gander.


J.Fetherston


http://www.guardian.co.uk/british-ethics-dishonesty-study

Abortion: a political issue?

http://www.pncius.org/alveda-king-speech-to-european-parliment.html

Check out this speech!

Disability: A Thread for Weaving Joy

http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/01/4575

POETS - a challenging article about abortion and disability. Check it out for arguments against having abortions on the grounds of disability.

Mlane

Does anyone have a duck costume?

Lots of people seem to think that it would be a good idea to dress

Archie Warrilow

as a duck!

Does anyone have a suitable costume?

There is a new - more serious - poll for you to enjoy!

mlane

Embryos in action...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16687974

Should we use embryos to further medical treatment?

What would Kant say? What would Aquinas say?

Mlane... A person

Advertising abortion...

It is now going to be legal for abortion clinics to advertise their services on TV.

What sort of impact will this have on society?

What impact will it have on vulnerable people?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16663800

Who is the mummy?

Calling all Poets! This is directly related to one of our upcoming topics...please read it.

What are the rights and wrongs of this? What would a follower of Natural Law think? What would a follower of Utilitarianism think?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16627043

'When something becomes useful, its gender becomes female...'

Are ethics culturally relative? Here's a perspective you might not have encountered before.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16592633

London 2012: Drug cheats be warned.

 A wee article for you on what the London Olympic organisers are doing to stop cheating.

• Why would you use drugs when there are always side effects?
• What reflection does taking drugs for sport has on the person and the country?
• Would Utilitarianism support an athlete taking drugs?

www.morethanthegames.co.uk/london-2012

Ethical salutations

Jfetherston

Playing God...

Is it right to mess with genetics?

What if manipulating genes results in cures?

What if it results in 'designer babies?'

A wee enriching documentary to stimulate your ethical ethicists' minds...........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01b45zh/Horizon_20112012_Playing_God/

New laws for the press?

An interesting little snippet of news for your ethical minds. Do the press need news laws to keep them from hacking voicemail's and bribing police? or should the laws that are meant to be stopping them from doing these things be made stronger?

have a read;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16591790

Jfetherston

It's a girl!

Have a look at the trailer it relates to the previous article.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISme5-9orR0&feature=share

...cultural relativism?

A contemporary ethical issue to get your wee heads around: is this practice wrong? Why? Do you have the right to judge another culture/society? If you do, why? Where does this right come from...


http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/01/16/it%E2%80%99s-a-girl-the-three-deadliest-words-in-the-world/


just a few thoughts......

mlane

Messing with genetics...

How do Catholics face this scientific development?

What does it mean for the sanctity of human life?

 What are the arguments for and against?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14919539

There are now some slides up on the essay page that may be of some use to your esurient ethical noggins.

Please comment if you need any help or have a query.

Regards.

Jfetherston

Looking for notes?

Dear educated ethicists,

there are now some notes on the notes page! There will be more in due course. Do use the comment box to ask questions...

best,

mlane

Like a virgin?

Ethics l.i.t.e methinks, but she makes some interesting comments about pre-marital sex which might be relevant to Rhetoric studying sexual ethics! It is important to watch it until the end  - she makes some powerful comments about the value of celibacy and the effect of Christianity on her own life.

Link removed on request from Mr Allanson. You can still find the programme on iplayer though!

Just War? 

A wee little ethical cartoon


Jfetherston

Have you seen the movie "Alien"?

A wee little video to unispire you (see previous post)

Seriously though, It is rather interesting - Cut out the waffle and skip the vid along to 1:57.

Jfetherston

Thinking about sex? Thinking about marriage?

 A wee little link for your ravenous ethical minds: The scientific thinking about no sex before marriage.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1341126/Want-secret-happy-marriage-Dont-sex-wedding.html?fwcc=1&fwcl=1&fwl&_ft_qid=5696410608398447939&_ft_mf_story_key=10150089216314873&_ft_filter=h_nor&_ft_interface=m_faceweb_iphone&_ft_c=m

Jfetherston

Messing with monkeys

This is wee little link from the BBC about embryology. Have a look in preparation for studying applied ethics!

mlane

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16427873

Introducing Stonyhurst Ethics

Dear ethical Stonyhurst ethicists,

 here is a wee blog to help you on your ethical way. You will find a whole lot of different interesting, fascinating and educationally enriching stuff ranging from newpaper articles to essay writing tips. Have a look on a regular basis to keep up to date with notes and news.

Do let us know if you can think of anything you would like to see!

Happy pontificating,

The ethical Stonyhurst ethics team.