NWI-FFIL302
Philosophy and Ethics in Microbiology
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleNWI-FFIL302
Credits (ECTS)3
CategoryMA (Master)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Science; Institute for Science, Innovation and Society;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
dr. P.C. Lemmens
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. P.C. Lemmens
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
dr. P.C. Lemmens
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2020
Period
KW2  (02/11/2020 to 24/01/2021)
Starting block
KW2
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
  • Enabling students to articulate and reflect on the impact of microbiology on our worldview, notably our understanding of (the history and function of) life and the position of human beings, science and technology in shaping (the future of) life).
  • Enabling students to identify and address societal and moral issues emerging in contemporary microbiological research
  • Enabling students to reflect on their future role
Content
Until recently, philosophical perspectives and approaches were only marginally involved in debates on microbiology (compared to for instance environmental philosophy or animal philosophy), but this has changed. Notwithstanding the dominance of the anthropocentric perspective on life, we are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that the earth is basically a microbial planet, while the human body is inhabited by myriads of microbes, responsible for a broad range of physiological processes usually listed as ‘metabolism’.
It is impossible to understand life without taking microbes into account. At the same time, we have entered the ‘anthropocene’, a new geological era in which human beings are having a pervasive and irreversible impact on life, affecting the conditions of evolution on a planetary scale. In our philosophy course, a number of philosophical issues emerging in contemporary microbiology will be addressed.
Introduction
First of all, the role of microbes and microbiology in our understanding of (the origin of) microbial and multi-cellular life, from the impact of early life forms on the atmosphere up to the role of microbiota in the human body (human beings as ecosystems). Special attention will be given to endosymbiosis, the theory that mitochondria represent formerly free-living bacteria.   
Biotechnology: from reading to rewriting / redesigning life?   
Around 1900, Jacques Loeb already argued that the objective of biology should not be merely to analyse and understand, but rather to control, improve, resynthesize and refurbish life. Genetic modification of microorganisms led to major advancements in science and industry for example in bio-remediation (e.g. in cleaning up soils polluted by industrial activities), pharmaceutical production (e.g. insulin production) and biotechnology (e.g. insert glucose transporters in a methanogen to increase methane production).
Initially, scientists themselves felt uneasy about the societal consequences of their work. In 1975, Paul Berg, as co-organiser of the famous Asilomar conference, proposed a moratorium on certain forms of recombinant DNA research. Currently, biotechnology is rather seen as an important factor in bringing about a more sustainable, bio-based economy (via a greening or biologisation of industrial production). 
Synthetic life
Scientists active in synthetic biology consider the possibility of producing minimal synthetic life forms to which various features can be added so that they can be used for the creation of new products and substances assembly line fashion. Thus, humans beings will be able to open up a new chapter in the history of evolution by creating new life forms (a new Cambrian explosion as it were). As suppose a (functioning, self-replicating) synthetic cell can be created in vitro: would that mean that we finally understand life? How will it affect basic conceptual dichotomies such as living vs. non-living, artificial versus natural, technological vs. biological? Or do these bio-engineers underestimate the complexity, recalcitrance and unpredictability of living systems?

Instructional Modes
Level

Presumed foreknowledge

Test information
Individual final essay
Specifics

Required materials
Articles
Articles on blackboard

Instructional modes
Course
Attendance MandatoryYes

Tests
Final Result
Test weight1
OpportunitiesBlock KW2, Block KW3