https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/W_MA_NSNSAt the end of this course the student is better able to (1) Knowledge: identify and address several ethical issues emerging at the interface between neuroscience and society (2) Skills: address, analyze, and discuss these ethical issues orally and in written form, in professional and public contexts (e.g., policy recommendations) (3) Attitude: appreciate ethical and societal dimensions of neuroscience and to reflect upon the professional responsibility of researchers and practitioners.Neuroethics is the field in which normative, legal, and societal implications of brain research are investigated. Neuroscience has an impact on how we think about ourselves (namely as rational and autonomous agents). It affects practices like law and psychiatry. It confronts us with moral concerns about certain applications: enhancement of normal functioning, "mind-reading" and lie-detection, military applications, and forms of health surveillance, just to name a few. On the other hand, neuroscientific insights can be instrumental in promoting health and wellbeing, for instance deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and psychopathology. Moreover, the (social and cultural) context in which neuroscientific research is performed, and the way findings are communicated to the public, also have significant implications for how society views neuroscience—and for how people view themselves. This philosophical course investigates the interaction between neuroscience, society, and our view on human nature. Topics include: a. Neuroethics introduction: Fields of research b. Enhancement (cognitive and moral) c. Neuroscience and the law d. Social and cultural contexts of neuroscience e. Neuroscientific communication and the public image(i) Interactive lectures (ii) Study of literature (iii) Student presentations (iv) Group discussionsThe learning objectives will be assessed in the following two ways: · Final paper (Learning Objectives 1+2+3) (70%) · Presentation in class (Learning Objective 1+2+3) (30%) The final paper (3000 words) is assessed on the basis of the following criteria: · Clarity of research question/topic · Originality of research question/topic · Clarity of methodical approach to the research question/topic · Relevant, succinct, and focused summary of findings and arguments in the literature · Clarity of one’s own argumentative structure · Conclusiveness of the argumentation · Style, format, and presentation The presentations in the classroom are evaluated based on the following criteria: · Overall quality of summaries (clarity, succinctness, focus) · Relevance (questions, remarks) · Presentation (skills, use of digital media, quality of discussion)Course manual and literature will be published a few weeks ahead of the beginning of the course on Canvas.Target audience of the course are research master neuroscience students and those with equal qualifications, see https://vuweb.vu.nl/en/education/master/philosophy-of-neuroscience/admis Other applications (for instance, for this course as a separate course) are at the discretion of the Admission Board of Faculty of Humanities.