Ethics of Emerging Technologies

BIOETH 505: Ethics of Emerging Technologies will be taught on Wednesdays from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the Emory University Center for Ethics (ground floor of 1531 Dickey Drive).

About the Ethics of Emerging Technologies Summer 2024 Course

This course is designed to explore the ethical dimensions of a wide array of cutting-edge advancements shaping our future. Throughout this course, we'll delve into the metaphysical and epistemological aspects of emerging technologies, using them as springboards for robust ethical discussions. From AI, robotics, augmented reality, and virtual reality to mind-uploading, biobanking, space exploration, gene therapy, cultured meat, xenotransplantation, and more, we'll examine how these innovations can promote human flourishing while addressing the ethical dilemmas they present. Through engaging with science fiction and cinematic portrayals, we'll provoke thought and stimulate dialogue on the societal implications of these technologies. Our goal is to cultivate a deep understanding of how to navigate these ethical landscapes responsibly, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits and burdens, and minimizing potential harms, all while considering the well-being of future generations and adopting a global perspective.

Suitability for a Range of Students & Working Professionals

While the course is offered as part of Emory’s MA in Bioethics program, as a standalone elective it is also suitable for a range of other students.  This course is available to students seeking graduate degrees at Emory or other universities, non-degree seeking students and working professionals (including faculty and staff in all of Emory’s Schools).  Because it is a graduate course, anyone applying to take this course must have previously completed at least a bachelor’s degree.  Students who are not currently pursuing a graduate degree at Emory University will need to apply to be non-degree seeking students in special standing with the Laney Graduate School.

  • For those seeking graduate degrees at Emory, it is important that you discuss this course’s suitability to meet your degree requirements with your academic advisor and/or director of graduate studies.  This is a three credit hour course that counts as an elective in the MA in Bioethics program.  The MA in Bioethics program is not responsible for the degree requirements of other programs at Emory.
  • For those seeking degrees at non-Emory universities, it is important that you discuss this course’s suitability to meet the degree requirements from your home university.  Emory University is not responsible for the degree requirements of other universities. 
  • For those not seeking a degree at Emory, the tuition rates are determined by the Laney Graduate School.  The Laney Graduate School charges $2,600 per credit hour.  As the course is three credit hours, the tuition costs $7,800.  Students who successfully complete this standalone course may apply to transfer these 3 credit hours to the MA in Bioethics program should they later apply to and be admitted to the MA in Bioethics program.  The MA in Bioethics program requires 30 credit hours of coursework for completion. 
  • For Emory faculty and staff, the tuition costs for this course may be covered by the Emory Courtesy Scholarship.  For more information, please visit the Courtesy Scholarship webpage and contact HR. 

In order to apply to take this course without being an Emory MA in Bioethics degree student, you will have to apply as a non-degree Laney Graduate School student. For the Summer 2024 term, the non-degree student enrollment deadline is May 7, 2024.  

For more information about this course, please email: mabioethics@emory.edu.

Meet the Course Leader

Ju Zhang received her second Ph.D. in philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin in 2022 and her first Ph.D. in philosophy from Beijing Normal University in China in 2015. She also studied in the Philosophy Department of The University of Oxford from 2013 to 2014 for a UK-China joint training Ph.D. program in philosophy.

Ju's current research focuses on developing and defending a trust-oriented model of the patient-physician relationship. Her goal is to promote rational patient-physician trust by modifying relevant concepts such as patient autonomy, informed consent, and justified intervention in light of her model. This research is motivated by the profound mistrust between healthcare professionals and patients around the world, and Ju is committed to addressing unique issues that different countries face, such as the issue of race and gender in the United States and paternalism and authoritarianism in China.