Contemporary Political Philosophy and the Body

GV473       Half Unit    
Contemporary Political Philosophy and the Body

http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/courseGuides/GV/2006_GV473.htm

This information is for the 2006/07 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr C Fabre, K301

Availability

For students taking MSc Political Theory and MSc Political Theory (Research); other students may attend subject to lecturer's permission.

Core syllabus

To study standard arguments, in moral and political philosophy, for conferring on individuals the right to control what happens to their body, and for denying them such right.

Content

There is no consensus, amongst philosophers, as to whether or not we should be given the right fully to control what happens to our body. The course first looks at standard arguments regarding the status of persons; it then examines and critically assesses standard arguments for, or against, abortion, the commercialisation of the body (including surrogacy), euthanasia, cloning, coercive taking of body parts for transplant purposes. It also assesses the extent to which the state should legislate in those matters, by examining the claims of those who think, for example, that abortion is morally wrong and yet should not be made unlawful. In so doing, the course examines the relationship between private and public morality, for which our control over our body is a test case.

Teaching

10 two-hour seminars in the MT, and two two-hour revision seminars in the ST.

Written work

Students will be expected to write two essays.

Reading list

J Harris, Clones, Genes and Immortality; J Harris (Ed), The Future of Human Reproduction; A Buchanan et al, From Chance to Choice: Genetics and Justice; F Kamm, Morality, Mortality; M Nussbaum, Sex and Social Justice; J Glover, Causing Death and Saving Lives; E Rakowski, Equal Justice.

Assessment

100% assessed essay (4,500-5,500 words).

Required readings for students without a background in political philosophy

W Kymlicka, An Introduction to Contemporary Political Philosophy.