Ethics of COVID-19

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

In this course the classical ethics virtues of wisdom, justice, courage, temperance, and piety will be applied to the vital ethical and health issues we (Georgetown, the United States, and the entire world) are grappling with as we cope with COVID-19. Professor Lewis looks at how government approaches health and policy issues and Professor Buckley gives the academic background and critical analysis of current and emerging COVID issues. A signature piece of a Jesuit education is the study of ethics. Ethical issues have been debated and discussed throughout history and many of the issues which confronted society in classical times are still with us today. As society grows more complex, ethical issues also grow more complex. In this course, students are introduced to the classical issues in ethics and are required to read, write, and discuss critically the following major ethical theories: 1) virtue ethics, 2) stoicism, 3) religious ethics, 4) the social contract, 5) natural rights, 6) duty ethics, and 7) utilitarianism. We will also study modern and contemporary interpretations of these traditional theories. Finally, the traditional theories are applied to critical ethical issues confronting society today in COVID. Applied ethics topics include social justice, bioethics, national security, and the politics of COVID.