Narrative Ethics, Humanities, and the Arts

BETH 771 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This interdisciplinary course offers an immersive exploration of bioethical issues through two important perspectives: 1) narrative approaches to ethical issues in clinical medicine, and 2) the arts and humanities.

Section 1 - Narrative Ethics: Narrative competence is fundamental to the ethical practice and study of medicine. This elective course focuses on narrative approaches to ethical issues in clinical medicine. Using literary narratives and poetry as primary readings, the course methodology emphasizes the importance of narrative components such as particularity, contingency, change, voice, context, and time in recognizing, understanding, and resolving moral problems. Narrative ethics aims to develop skills in critical and reflective reading and writing that parallel skills needed for varied professional work in ethics.

Texts include fiction, essays, and poetry. The course director provides necessary philosophic and literary context in videos, required readings, or short comments at the opening of each session. Class time is devoted primarily to discussion. Writing for the course explores the confluence of personal experience with moral thinking in biomedical ethics. Students are required to write four reading journal entries, 350-750 words each. Students are also required to write a minimum of one entry and one response on the class discussion board each week. Total writing time each week is expected to be approximately two hours. All writing assignments are due by Monday, 9 am (Boston time).

Section II - Arts and Humanities: The class invites students to delve deeply into the intersection of aesthetic experience and moral inquiry, using artistic modalities to enrich their understanding of bioethical principles, theories, lenses, and frameworks. Through analysis of visual and performing arts, literary works, and diverse media, we will cultivate essential bioethical skills, including critical thinking, ethical reasoning, empathy, and self-reflection.

Class sessions will integrate lectures, dynamic discussions, and close readings of texts. Additionally, interactive narrative medicine workshops will provide students with experiential opportunities to humanize abstract bioethical concepts, apply visual thinking strategies, and focus on personal moral development. By the end of the section, students will emerge with a heightened awareness of bioethical complexities and practical tools necessary for ethical decision-making. Evaluation will be based on participation, weekly assignments, and a final project tailored to student interests.