Ethical Dilemmas in Society: Insights from Liporetsky, Freud, and Rousseau
Unit 11: Liporetsky’s *The Twilight of Duty***
Structure and Theme
a. Structure: This text can be divided into three parts:
- Part I (lines 1-4): Introduction to the subject of bioethics. The problem statement is that ethics in the medical field must seek a balance between individual interests and the common good.
- Part II (lines 5-32): Development of the subject. Exposition and argument for the necessity of creating specific ethics in the medical field. The text specifically addresses human experimentation and the limitations that, according to the author, ethics must address.
- Part III: Conclusion. This section reiterates the introductory idea.
b. Theme: Issues in bioethics, specifically human experimentation.
Commentary
a. Introduction: The author acknowledges the need for specific ethical guidelines to address issues related to human experimentation and proposes a number of limitations.
b. Development: This text primarily relates to paragraph 4.3: Issues in Bioethics. It also broadly connects with paragraph 4.1: Morality and Legality, and paragraph 2.1: Definition of Ethics. (To be developed completely in each of these sections).
c. Conclusion (personal opinion): To help you assess these proposals:
- Provide your opinion on the ethical acceptability of human experimentation. Justify it.
- Relate the issues discussed in the text to other related problems, such as animal testing, compensation for volunteers, etc.
Unit 12: Freud’s *Civilization and Its Discontents***
Structure and Theme
a. Structure: This text can be divided into two parts:
- Part I (lines 1-22): Technological innovations represent an evolution and a change in our lives and our way of seeing the world.
- Part II (lines 23-45): Technological innovations are a landmark of culture and transform us into a kind of *demigods*.
b. Theme: The impact of technology in today’s world.
Commentary
a. Introduction: The author reflects on technological development in the modern world and its impact.
b. Development: This text relates to paragraph 4: The Impact of Technology in Today’s World. (To complete the commentary, you must develop that paragraph).
c. Conclusion (personal opinion): To help you assess these proposals:
- A topical issue
- Express your own opinion on this topic: Does technological development make us *demigods*, or is this just an *illusion*?
Unit 14: Rousseau’s *Discourse on the Origin and Foundation of Inequality Among Men***
Structure and Theme
a. Structure: This text can be divided into four parts:
- Part I (lines 1-12): Discusses the need for a society that allows for the limited but active participation of all citizens.
- Part II (lines 13-20): Raises the need for a democratic government to achieve the common good.
- Part III (lines 21-25): Rousseau presents the concept of freedom, arguing that there is no contradiction between defending true freedom and submission to the laws.
- Part IV (lines 26-27): Conclusion: The state cannot be above the law.
b. Theme: The State.
Commentary
a. Introduction: The author explains how, in his view, a state should seek the common good, with a clear case for democracy.
b. Development: This text relates to the sections devoted to the concept of the State, theories about the origin of the State (Unit 14), and the section on Democracy (Unit 15 of the book). (To complete the commentary, you must develop these sections).
c. Conclusion (personal opinion): To help you assess these proposals:
- The demand for direct democracy: Is it possible? Is it desirable? Justify your answer.