Seminar: Special topics: Assisted Suicide (PHIL 690): Spring 1999
California State University, Long Beach: Thursday -- LA1-304 - 4:00-6:45 p.m.
Julie Van Camp, Associate Professor of Philosophy

COURSE SYLLABUS

Text: Physician-Assisted Suicide: Expanding the Debate, edited by Margaret P. Battin, Rosamond Rhodes, and Anita Silvers (Routledge, 1998)
 

Date Reading Assignments
1/28 Orientation to course
2/4 4:00-5:00: Library Orientation with Librarian Larry Snider: Main Library 421W

5:15-6:45: Class meeting: LA1-304
Introduction (pp. 1-10)
"Meanings of Death," Patricia S. Mann (pp. 11-27)*
2/11 "Physician-Assisted Suicide," Margaret P. Battin (pp. 63-72)*
Washington v. Glucksberg (opinion of the court) (pp. 377-388)*
2/18 "Physicians, Assisted Suicide, and the Right to Live or Die," Rosamond Rhodes (pp. 165-176)*
"Physician, Stay Thy Hand!" Bernard Baumrin (pp. 177-181)*
2/25 Washington v. Glucksberg (concurring opinions) (pp. 389-422)*
3/4 Vaco v. Quill (pp. 423-430)*
"Physician-Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, and Intending Death," Frances M. Kamm (pp. 28-62)*
3/11 Philosophers' Brief (pp. 431-441)*
Annotated Bibliography DUE at class time
3/18 NO CLASS: Odyssey Presentation
3/25 "Physician-Assisted Suicide" Lance K. Stell (pp. 225-251)*
The Oregon Death With Dignity Act (pp. 443-448)*
Spring Break: March 29-April 2: NO CLASS
4/8 "The Weakness of the Case for Legalizing Physician-Assisted Suicide," Don Marquis (pp. 267-278)*
"Physician-Assisted Suicide," John D. Arras (pp. 279-300)*
"An Alternative to Physician-Assisted Suicide," Bernard Gert, Charles M. Culver, K. Danner Clouser (pp. 182-202)*

Group One: Oral presentation/discussion of thesis statements; submit written statement
4/15 "Assisted Suicide: Are the Elderly a Special Case?" Leslie Pickering Francis (pp. 75-90)*
"Lessons for Physician-Assisted Suicide from the African-American Experience," Patricia A. King and Leslie E. Wolf (pp. 91-112)*

Group Two: Oral presentation/discussion of thesis statements; submit written statement
4/22 "Disability and Life-Ending Decisions," Jerome E. Bickenbach (pp. 123-132)*
"Protecting the Innocents from Physician-Assisted Suicide," Anita Silvers (pp. 133-148)*

Group Three: Oral presentation/discussion of thesis statements; submit written statement
4/29 Group One: Oral Presentation of papers to class, discussion/critique, submit draft papers
5/6 Group Two: Oral Presentation of papers to class, discussion/critique, submit draft papers
5/13 Group Three: Oral Presentation of papers to class, discussion/critique, submit draft papers
5/20 FINAL paper due at exam time: 4:00 p.m.

*Available for written discussion questions (See Course Requirements and Grading: Participation)

Questions? jvancamp@csulb.edu

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Last updated: February 13, 1999