Project information

Bioethics in Context

All summerschools are committed to an innovative and interdisciplinary notion of integrative Bioethics, combining normative-ethical research and a socio-cultural approach of “pluralistic perspectivity” (“pluriperspektivischer Ansatz”). This includes also questions concerning the mediation between academic medical sciences and Bioethics, as well as politics. Fundamental questions and terms related to the subject of Bioethics shall be assessed in their philosophical, medical, legal and political meanings. Due to its’ interdisciplinary dialogue, the Summerschool may offer new perspectives on known problems, which had no or only marginal interest considered in their branch of science.
Concepts as “dignity”, “autonomy” or “presumable will” are often used by representatives of legislature, although there is no further reflection on these notions in the domains of legal and political sciences, not considering its’ philosophical meaning revealing a challenging concept and a vast history of ideas. Vice Versa, a philosophical approach often lacks concretion towards the everyday-problems of physicians or the legal reactions of politics responding to difficulties. The Summerschools and their interdisciplinary direction will especially deal with these aspects to contribute continuative solutions to existing debates.

    • Summer school 2012: „Individual Will and Ethical-legal Constructs of Will in Medical Ethics and Bioethics“ (Abstract)
    • Summer school 2013: „Autonomy, Dignity and Life as Basic Coordinates to Medical Ethics and Bioethics“ (Focus: bioethical consensus regarding multidisciplinarity)
    • Summer school 2016: „Bioethics in Context III: Bioethics as a Scientific and Social Project: The Idea of Integrative Bioethics“
    • Summer school 2017: „Philosophy and Life Sciences in Dialogue - Theoretical and Practical Questions“
    • Summer school 2018: „Life, Living Bodies, and the Genes. Bioethical Reflections on New Genetic Knowledge“
    • Summer school 2019: „Human Beings – Nonhuman Beings – Nature“

  • In the course of the Summer School 2012 pivotal questions of medical- and Bioethics, like autonomy, Dignity of Man, life and will, will be analyzed towards their “practical capability”. During a three-year period, annual meetings shall reflect topics from a multinational and interdisciplinary view. The variety of distinct subjects involved in the fields of bio- and medicinal ethics will be considered, as well as cultural and juridical perspectives featured in these questions. Intended is an idea of ‘Integrative Bioethics’.

  • The target group involves majorly students on master- and doctorate levels, leaving participants with the ability to engage in relevant public contexts, respectively in corresponding institutions (e.g. ethics councils and committees), concerned with questions linked to Bioethics. This is how the concept of ‘life-long learning’ shall be fostered. A further target group involves students of cooperating universities and their pertinent fields of study, as well as participants of the advanced training offer “Medical Ethics” of the Fernuniversität in Hagen, who will also benefit from the learning materials.

  • The events will follow the proven method of ‘blended learning, which combines components of invited lecturers, seminar debates, group sessions on concrete topics, provision of electronic study materials (e-learning) and follow up studies provided by recordings of selected lectures and discussion (videostreaming). For their preparation students will read the study letters and will submit one assignment. This is how they will prepare for lectures and seminars of the Summerschool. Furthermore a formation of multinational studying groups is intended. The Summerschool will be composed of lectures, seminars and working groups, and will be accompanied by field trips. A transition to political-legal practices as the actual media of conversion of bioethically responsible measures will be guarded by workshops, panel discussions with invited speakers of public life (e.g. representatives and members of ethics councils and –comitees). At the end of the Summerschool students will present and discuss their own projects (term papers, master thesis or doctorate thesis). Preparation and follow up studies can be carried out in a ‘virtual learning room’ on Moodle, where learning materials as well as queries and joint learning activities. A student assistant will enable mentoring duties, present and support communications between students and lecturers.

  • Prof. Dr. Michael Fuchs
    Katholische Privatuniversität Linz
    Lehrstuhl für Praktische Philosophie / Ethik
    Homepage

    Assist. Prof. Dr. Hrvoje Juric
    Universität Zagreb
    Philosophische Fakultät
    HR-10000 Zagreb
    Kroatien
    E-Mail: hjuric@yahoo.com
    Homepage

    Prof. Dr. Valentina Kaneva
    Sofia Universität "St. Kliment Ohridski"
    СОФИЙСКИ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ “СВ. КЛИМЕНТ ОХРИДСКИ”
    Faculty of Philosophy
    15 Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd.
    1504 Sofia
    Bulgarien
    E-Mail: vkaneva@phls.uni-sofia.bg
    Homepage

    Prof. Dr. Theodoros Penolidis
    Aristoteles Universität Thessaloniki
    ΑΡΙΣΤΟΤΕΛΕΙΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗΣ
    School of Philosophy and Education, Department of Philosophy
    54006 Thessaloniki
    Griechenland
    E-Mail: thepenol@edlit.auth.gr
    Homepage

    Prof. Dr. Stavroula Tsinorema
    Universität Kreta
    Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης
    Philosophie und Sozialwissenschaften
    University Campus
    74100 Rethymnon
    Griechenland
    E- Mail: tsinorema@fks.uoc.gr
    Homepage

    New Partners 2019:

    Prof. Bardhyl Çipi, PhD
    Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana (Albania)

    Prof. Željko Kaluđerović, PhD
    Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad (Serbia)

    Assist. Prof. Orhan Jašić, PhD
    Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

08.04.2024